Systems and methods for reduced latency during initial link setup

ABSTRACT

A method of operation of a mobile device to reduce link setup time includes initiating a link setup procedure with a first access point. The link setup procedure includes receiving dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) information via the first access point. The method further includes communicating with the first access point using the DHCP information and initiating communication with a second access point after communicating with the first access point. The method further includes receiving an indication from the second access point identifying whether the mobile device is able to communicate with the second access point using the DHCP information. A value of the indication identifies whether the mobile device is able to reduce link setup time with the second access point by avoiding DHCP reconfiguration with the second access point.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/846,536, filed Jul. 15, 2013 and entitled “SYSTEMSAND METHODS FOR REDUCED LATENCY DURING INITIAL LINK SETUP”, and alsoclaims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/859,611,filed on Jul. 29, 2013 and entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD TO ASSIGN ANINTERNET PROTOCOL ADDRESS TO A MOBILE DEVICE DURING A HANDOFF”. Thedisclosures of the aforementioned applications are incorporated byreference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present application relates generally to wireless communicationsystems and more specifically to systems, methods, and devices for fastinitial network link setup within wireless communication systems.

2. Background

Advances in technology have resulted in smaller and more powerfulelectronic devices. For example, there currently exist a variety ofmobile devices, such as wireless telephones, personal digital assistants(PDAs), and paging devices. The mobile devices may be small,lightweight, and easily carried by users. Wireless telephones, such ascellular telephones and Internet Protocol (IP) telephones, cancommunicate voice and data packets over wireless networks. Further, manywireless telephones include other types of devices that are incorporatedtherein. For example, a wireless telephone can also include a digitalstill camera, a digital video camera, a digital recorder, and an audiofile player. Also, wireless telephones can process executableinstructions including software applications, such as a web browserapplication, that can be used to access the Internet. Wirelesstelephones and other mobile devices may communicate data with otherdevices (e.g., an access point) via a wireless link (e.g., using awireless channel, such as a particular frequency, or another type ofwireless channel, etc.).

A mobile device and an access point may exchange certain initialcommunications related to network information prior to exchanging userdata. For example, prior to exchanging user data, the mobile device andthe access point may perform a “link setup” procedure by exchanginginformation related to types of communication techniques supported,network addresses, authentication information, and/or associationinformation, as illustrative examples. In some cases, a large number ofmobile devices may attempt to establish wireless connectivity with aparticular access point. For example, when several mobile devices movewithin range of an access point, the access point may experience anincreased rate of link setup requests, creating latencies in the linksetup process. Accordingly, there is a need for improved initial linksetup procedures in a wireless communication network.

SUMMARY

Wireless connectivity setup time (or “link setup” time) between a mobiledevice and an access point (AP) is reduced by enabling the mobile deviceto avoid dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) processes in certaincases. To illustrate, the mobile device may initiate a DHCP processduring initial link setup with a first AP to enable Internet Protocol(IP) communications. For example, the mobile device may communicate witha DHCP server (via the first AP) to obtain a DHCP “lease” that providesthe mobile device with DHCP information. The DHCP information mayinclude an IP address that is valid for a particular time duration.After initiating the DHCP process and prior to expiration of the DHCPlease, a user of the mobile device may move out of range of the first APand within range of a second AP, triggering a “handoff” of the mobiledevice from the first AP to the second AP. Based on the handoff, theDHCP server may determine what IP address (e.g., a “new” IP address) toassign to the mobile device. The process of determining the “new” IPaddress may cause delay during the handoff procedure. For example, theDHCP server may take more than one second to determine the “new” IPaddress. The delay to the completion time of the handoff procedure maycause the handoff procedure to fail to complete before the mobile devicemoves out of the coverage area of the first AP. Thus, in this case, anongoing communication session at the mobile device may be interrupted orterminated during the handoff procedure.

The present application describes systems and methods to shorten handofftime and to enable IP address assignment without communicating with aDHCP server. According to a first method, a mobile device may bereassigned a previous IP address by an access point when the mobiledevice associates with the access point during handoff. To illustrate,the mobile device may be assigned a first IP address from a DHCP serverwhen the mobile device is associated with a first AP. The first IPaddress may also be provided to a server, such as an authenticationserver. When the mobile device initiates a handoff procedure with asecond AP, the mobile device may request the first IP address from thesecond AP. The second AP may compare the requested IP address to an IPaddress provided by the authentication server. When the requested IPaddress matches the IP address provided by the authentication server,the second AP may reassign the first IP address to the mobile device.Thus, the mobile device may be reassigned the same IP address duringhandoff without involvement of a DHCP server during the handoff.

In accordance with a second method, instead of automaticallyre-initiating the DHCP process with the second AP as in certainconventional systems, the mobile device may maintain the current DHCPlease. In a particular embodiment, the mobile device receives anindication from the second AP during initial link setup with the secondAP. The indication may specify whether the first AP and the second APare included in a common network (e.g., a network of APs managed by acommon DHCP server). If the first AP and the second AP are included in acommon network, the mobile device may continue to use the DHCPinformation (e.g., instead of re-performing the DHCP process to obtain anew IP address), thus reducing a time duration for establishingconnectivity with the second AP.

In a particular embodiment, a method of operation of a mobile device toreduce link setup time includes initiating a link setup procedure with afirst access point. The link setup procedure includes receiving dynamichost configuration protocol (DHCP) information via the first accesspoint. The method further includes communicating with the first accesspoint using the DHCP information and initiating communication with asecond access point after communicating with the first access point. Themethod further includes receiving an indication from the second accesspoint identifying whether the mobile device is able to communicate withthe second access point using the DHCP information. A value of theindication identifies whether the mobile device is able to reduce linksetup time with the second access point by avoiding DHCP reconfigurationwith the second access point.

In another particular embodiment, an apparatus includes a memory and aradio frequency (RF) interface. The memory is configured to store DHCPinformation. The RF interface is configured to initiate a link setupprocedure with a first access point. The link setup procedure includesreceiving the DHCP information via the first access point. The RFinterface is further configured to communicate with the first accesspoint using the DHCP information, to initiate communication with asecond access point, and to receive an indication from the second accesspoint identifying whether to communicate with the second access pointusing the DHCP information. A value of the indication identifies whetherlink setup time with the second access point may be reduced by avoidingDHCP reconfiguration with the second access point.

In another particular embodiment, a computer-readable medium storesinstructions executable by a processor of a mobile device to cause themobile device to perform operations that reduce link setup time. Theoperations include initiating a link setup procedure with a first accesspoint. The link setup procedure includes receiving dynamic hostconfiguration protocol (DHCP) information via the first access point.The operations further include communicating with the first access pointusing the DHCP information and initiating communication with a secondaccess point after communicating with the first access point. Theoperations further include receiving an indication from the secondaccess point identifying whether the mobile device is able tocommunicate with the second access point using the DHCP information. Avalue of the indication identifies whether the mobile device is able toreduce link setup time with the second access point by avoiding DHCPreconfiguration with the second access point.

In another particular embodiment, an apparatus includes means forinitiating a link setup procedure with a first access point. The linksetup procedure includes receiving dynamic host configuration protocol(DHCP) information via the first access point. The apparatus furtherincludes means for communicating with the first access point using theDHCP information and means for initiating communication with a secondaccess point after communicating with the first access point. Theapparatus further includes means for receiving an indication from thesecond access point identifying whether the mobile device maycommunicate with the second access point using the DHCP information. Avalue of the indication identifies whether link setup time with thesecond access point may be reduced by avoiding DHCP reconfiguration withthe second access point.

A particular advantage provided by at least one of the disclosedembodiments is faster initial link setup. For example, a mobile devicemay avoid automatic reconfiguration of DHCP in response to link setupwith an access point. Instead, the mobile device may utilize existingDHCP credentials to communicate with the access point in somecircumstances, reducing a latency associated with establishing wirelessconnectivity with the access point. Other aspects, advantages, andfeatures of the present disclosure will become apparent after review ofthe entire application, including the following sections: BriefDescription of the Drawings, Detailed Description, and the Claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram to illustrate a particular embodiment of a systemoperable to assign an IP address to a mobile device during a handoffprocedure using an AP;

FIG. 2 is a diagram to illustrate a particular embodiment of messagingflows of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram to illustrate another particular embodiment ofmessaging flows of the system of FIG. 1 during a handoff procedure;

FIG. 4 is a diagram to illustrate another particular embodiment ofmessaging flows of the system of FIG. 1 during the handoff procedure;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart to illustrate a particular embodiment of a methodof operation at an access point of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart to illustrate a particular embodiment of a methodof operation at a mobile device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart to illustrate a particular embodiment of a methodof operation at an AAA server of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart to illustrate a particular embodiment of a methodof operation at a DHCP server of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart to illustrate another particular embodiment of amethod of operation at an AAA server of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart to illustrate particular embodiments of methodsof operation at the system of FIG. 1 in accordance with the messagingflows of FIGS. 2-4;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a communication device includingcomponents that are operable to receive an assignment of IP address froman AP of FIG. 1 during a handoff procedure;

FIG. 12 is a diagram to illustrate a particular embodiment of a systemoperable to transmit an indication to a mobile device indicating whetherDHCP reconfiguration can be avoided;

FIG. 13 shows an exemplary communication exchange in the wirelesscommunication system of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 shows another exemplary communication exchange in the wirelesscommunication system of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart to illustrate an example method of operation thatmay be performed by a mobile device operating within the wirelesscommunication system of FIG. 12;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart to illustrate an example method of operation thatmay be performed by an access point operating within the wirelesscommunication system of FIG. 12;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart to illustrate an example method of operation thatmay be performed by a server operating within the wireless communicationsystem of FIG. 12; and

FIG. 18 is a block diagram of a mobile device that may operate withinthe wireless communication system of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various aspects of the novel systems, apparatuses, and methods aredescribed more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many differentforms and should not be construed as limited to any specific structureor function presented throughout this disclosure. Rather, these aspectsare provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, andwill fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in theart. Based on the teachings herein one skilled in the art shouldappreciate that the scope of the disclosure is intended to cover anyaspect of the novel systems, apparatuses, and methods disclosed herein,whether implemented independently of, or combined with, any otheraspect. For example, an apparatus may be implemented or a method may bepracticed using any number of the aspects set forth herein. In addition,the scope of the disclosure is intended to cover such an apparatus ormethod which is practiced using other structure, functionality, orstructure and functionality in addition to or other than the variousaspects of the disclosure set forth herein. It should be understood thatany aspect disclosed herein may be embodied by one or more elements of aclaim.

Although particular aspects are described herein, many variations andpermutations of these aspects fall within the scope of the disclosure.Although some benefits and advantages of the preferred aspects arementioned, the scope of the disclosure is not intended to be limited toparticular benefits, uses, or objectives. Rather, aspects of thedisclosure are intended to be broadly applicable to different wirelesstechnologies, system configurations, networks, and transmissionprotocols, some of which are illustrated by way of example in thefigures and in the following description of the preferred aspects. Thedetailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of thedisclosure rather than limiting, the scope of the disclosure beingdefined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

Particular embodiments of the present disclosure are described belowwith reference to the drawings. In the description and the drawings,common features are designated by common reference numbers for clarityof the embodiments as depicted and described.

The disclosure presents illustrative techniques to reduce link setuptime in a communication system, such as by avoiding certain dynamic hostconfiguration protocol (DHCP) reconfiguration operations. For example,FIGS. 1-11 describe that a particular internet protocol (IP) address canbe assigned to a mobile device during communications with multipleaccess points, which may reduce link setup time. As another example,FIGS. 12-18 describe that a device, such as an access point, maytransmit an indication to a mobile device indicating whether DHCPreconfiguration can be avoided to reduce link setup time. Thus, FIGS.1-18 describe certain illustrative implementations that may facilitatereduced link setup time in a communication system.

FIG. 1 illustrates a particular embodiment of a system 100 that isoperable to assign an IP address to a mobile device during a handoffprocedure using an access point (AP). The system 100 may include amobile device 102 (e.g., a wireless telephone, a laptop computer, atablet computer, etc.), a first AP 104, a second AP 106, anauthentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server 108, and adynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server 110.

Each device, AP, and server of the system 100 may include a processorand a memory. The memory may include processor executable instructions.For example, the mobile device 102 may include a processor 112 and amemory 114. The memory 114 may include instructions 116 that areexecutable by the processor 112 to control operations of the mobiledevice 102. As another example, the first AP 104 may include a processor118 and a memory 120. The memory 120 may include instructions 122 thatare executable by the processor 118 to control operations of the firstAP 104. As another example, the second AP 106 may include a processor136 and a memory 138. The memory 138 may include instructions 140 thatare executable by the processor 136 to control operations of the secondAP 106. As another example, the AAA server 108 may include a processor124 and a memory 126. The memory 126 may include instructions 128 thatare executable by the processor 124 to control operations of the AAAserver 108. As another example, the DHCP server 110 may include aprocessor 130 and a memory 132. The memory 132 may include instructions134 that are executable by the processor 130 to control operations ofthe DHCP server 110.

In a particular embodiment, the first AP 104 and the second AP 106 arewireless APs. For example, the mobile device 102 may communicate withthe first AP 104 or the second AP 106 via a wireless connection that iscompliant with an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers(IEEE) standard (e.g., an IEEE 802.11a standard, an IEEE 802.11bstandard, an IEEE 802.11g standard, an IEEE 802.11ai standard, etc.). Inanother particular embodiment, the first AP 104 is a cellular (e.g.,third generation (3G), fourth generation (4G), long term evolution(LTE), etc.) base station and the second AP 106 is a wireless AP. Forexample, the mobile device 102 may communicate with the first AP 104using a cellular connection, and the mobile device 102 may communicatewith the second AP 106 using a connection that is compliant with an IEEEstandard. The first AP 104 and the second AP 106 may be owned by acommon network operator. Thus, fast authentication (e.g., authenticationusing an extensible-authentication-protocol(EAP)-reauthentication-protocol (RP)) may be performed with the first AP104 or the second AP 106.

During operation, the mobile device 102 may associate with the first AP104 during a first association period. As used herein, the firstassociation period includes a period during which the mobile device 102authenticates with the first AP 104, a period during which the mobiledevice 102 associates with the first AP 104, a period during which themobile device 102 uses an IP address to communicate with another devicevia the first AP 104, or a combination thereof. For example, the mobiledevice 102 may have notice of presence of the first AP 104 via a beaconmessage or a probe response message received from the first AP 104. Themobile device 102 perform authentication with the first AP 104 via aconnection 142. For example, the mobile device 102 may transmitcredentials of the mobile device 102 to the first AP 104 via theconnection 142. The first AP 104 may forward the credentials to the AAAserver 108 via a connection 144 for verification. When the mobile device102 is authenticated, the first AP 104 may request the DHCP server 110to assign an IP address (e.g., an IPv4 address or an IPv6 address) tothe mobile device 102 via a connection 158. The DHCP server 110 mayassign an IP address 154 to the mobile device 102 via a connection 156.Alternatively, the DHCP server 110 may forward the IP address 154 to thefirst AP 104, and the first AP 104 may forward the IP address 154 to themobile device 102. The mobile device 102 may use the IP address 154 tocommunicate with another mobile device (not shown), one or more deviceswithin the range of the first AP, one or more devices outside the rangeof the first AP (e.g., via the Internet), or any combination thereof.

When the mobile device 102 determines that the mobile device 102 isabout to leave a coverage area of the first AP 104 (e.g., by measuringsignal strength of the connection 142), the mobile device 102 mayinitiate a handoff procedure with the second AP 106 to associate withthe second AP 106 during a second association period. As used herein,the second association period includes a period during which the mobiledevice 102 authenticates with the second AP 106, a period during whichthe mobile device 102 associates with the second AP 106, a period duringwhich the mobile device 102 uses an IP address to communicate withanother device via the second AP 106, or a combination thereof. Themobile device 102 may know about a presence of the second AP 106 via abeacon message or a probe response message received from the second AP106. The mobile device 102 may also know about the presence of thesecond AP 106 via a handoff candidate list or table supplied from anetwork operator or a different source. The mobile device 102 mayperform authentication with the second AP 106 via a connection 148. In aparticular embodiment, the mobile device 102 performs authenticationwith the second AP 106 using EAP-RP. After authenticating with thesecond AP 106, the mobile device 102 may transmit an association requestmessage to the second AP 106. The association request message mayinclude a request for a particular IP address. When a time-to-live (TTL)period of the IP address 154 is valid (e.g., the TTL period has notexpired) during the second association period, the mobile device 102 mayrequest the same IP address 154. When the TTL period of the IP address154 has expired during the second association period, the mobile device102 may request a different IP address. The mobile device 102 mayinclude an internal counter or clock to keep track of the TTL period.The TTL period may be set by the DHCP server 110.

In response to receiving the association request message, the second AP106 may compare the particular IP address in the association request toan IP address that is assigned to the mobile device 102 during a priorassociation period (e.g., the IP address 154). The second AP 106 mayobtain the IP address 154 from the AAA server 108 via a connection 146.

The AAA server 108 may obtain the IP address 154 from the DHCP server110 via a connection 152. In a particular embodiment, the AAA server 108obtains the IP address 154 from the DHCP server 110 during the firstassociation period. In another particular embodiment, the AAA server 108obtains the IP address 154 from the DHCP server 110 during the secondassociation period. In another particular embodiment, the AAA server 108obtains the IP address 154 from another device (e.g., another AP) thathas knowledge of the assignment of the IP address 154 to the mobiledevice 102 during the first association period. In another particularembodiment, the DHCP server 110 forwards the IP address 154 to the AAAserver 108 automatically (during the first or the second associationperiod) upon assigning the IP address 154 to the mobile device 102. Inanother particular embodiment, the AAA server 108 transmits a request tothe DHCP server 110 to request forwarding of the IP address 154. Inresponse to receiving the request, the DHCP server 110 forwards the IPaddress 154 to the AAA server 108. Examples of such message flows arefurther described with reference to FIGS. 2-4.

The AAA server 108 may store the IP address 154 in the memory 126 untilthe TTL period of the IP address 154 expires. In a particularembodiment, the DHCP server 110 keeps track of the TTL period of the IPaddress 154, and upon expiration of the TTL period, the DHCP server 110transmits a message to the AAA server 108 to indicate that the TTLperiod has expired. In response to receiving the message from the DHCPserver 110, the AAA server 108 may delete the IP address 154 from thememory 126.

To determine an appropriate IP address to forward to the second AP 106for comparison during the second association, the AAA server 108 mayassociate the IP address 154 with identification information of themobile device 102. For example, the AAA server 108 may associate the IPaddress 154 with a medium access control (MAC) address of the mobiledevice 102. As another example, the AAA server 108 may associate the IPaddress 154 with a network access identifier (NAI) of the mobile device102. The AAA server 108 may obtain the identification information fromthe DHCP server 110. For example, the DHCP server 110 may transmit theidentification information along with the IP address 154 to the AAAserver 108. Alternatively, the AAA server 108 may obtain theidentification information from the first AP 104 or the second AP 106.

The second AP 106 may also associate the IP address 154 with theidentification information of the mobile device 102 so that the secondAP 106 may compare the particular IP address requested during the secondassociation period to the IP address 154. For example, the AAA server108 may include both the IP address 154 and the identificationinformation of the mobile device 102 in the AAA-EAP-answer message.Based on the AAA-EAP-answer message, the second AP 106 may alsoassociate the IP address 154 with the identification information of themobile device 102. When the second AP 106 receives the associationrequest message from the mobile device 102 during the second associationperiod, the second AP 106 may determine which IP addresses obtained fromthe AAA server 108 is to be compared to the particular IP address in theassociation request message.

When the second AP 106 determines that the particular IP address matchesthe IP address 154, the second AP 106 may assign the IP address 154 tothe mobile device 102 to complete the handoff procedure. Thus, thesecond AP 106 may assign an IP address to the mobile device during thesecond association period without communicating with the DHCP server110. The mobile device 102 may use the IP address 154 to communicatewith other mobile devices.

When the second AP 106 determines that the particular IP address doesnot match the IP address 154, the second AP 106 may request the DHCPserver 110 to assign an IP address to the mobile device 102 via aconnection 150. The DHCP server 110 may assign the particular IP address(i.e., as requested by the mobile device 102, but different from the IPaddress 154) to the mobile device 102 when the particular IP address isavailable (e.g., not assigned to any other device associated with thesecond AP 106). The DHCP server 110 may assign a different IP address(i.e., different from the IP address requested by the mobile device 102and different from the IP address 154) to the mobile device 102 when theparticular IP address is not available. In a particular embodiment, theDHCP server 110 forwards the assigned IP address to the second AP 106and the second AP 106 forwards the assigned IP address to the mobiledevice 102 in the association response message to complete the handoffprocedure. The mobile device 102 may use the assigned IP address tocommunicate with other devices.

The system 100 may thus enable an AP (e.g., the second AP 106) to assigna mobile device an IP address (e.g., the IP address 154) that waspreviously assigned to the mobile device during a handoff procedure.Thus, a completion time of the handoff procedure may be reduced ascompared to using a DHCP server (e.g., the DHCP server 110) to assignthe IP address during or after the handoff procedure.

FIG. 2 is a diagram to illustrate a particular embodiment of messagingflows of the system 100 of FIG. 1. At 202, the mobile device 102 mayreceive a first beacon message or a first probe response message fromthe first AP 104. The first beacon message may include neighborinformation of the first AP 104, security domain information of thefirst AP 104, and IP domain information of the first AP 104. At 204,based on the first beacon message, the mobile device 102 may associatewith the first AP 104 during a first association period. For example,the mobile device 102 may perform a “full” authentication with the firstAP 104. For example, the mobile device 102 may transmit credentials ofthe mobile device 102 to the first AP 104. At 206, the first AP 104 mayforward the credentials to the AAA server 108 for verification.

At 208, in response to receiving the IP address assignment request, theDHCP server 110 may assign a first IP address (e.g., the IP address 154of FIG. 1) to the mobile device 102. At 210, the AAA server 108 mayrequest the DHCP server 110 to transmit the IP address (e.g., the firstIP address) assigned to the mobile device 102 via a request message. At212, after assigning the first IP address to the mobile device 102, theDHCP server 110 may forward the first IP address to the AAA server 108in response to receiving the request message from the AAA server 108.The AAA server 108 may store the first IP address until a TTL period ofthe first IP address expires. At 214, the mobile device 102 may use thefirst IP address to communicate (e.g., initiate or receive a voice overIP (VOIP) call) with another mobile device.

At 216, the mobile device 102 may receive a second beacon message (or asecond probe response message) from the second AP 106. The mobile device102 may receive the second beacon message when the mobile device 102 isin a coverage area of the second AP 106. The second beacon message mayinclude neighbor information of the second AP 106, security domaininformation of the second AP 106, and IP domain information of thesecond AP 106. At 218, the mobile device 102 may initiate a handoffprocedure to associate with the second AP 106 during a secondassociation period (e.g., due to moving away from a coverage area of thefirst AP 104) while the communication (e.g., the VOIP call) with theother mobile device is still active. For example, the mobile device 102may perform authentication with the second AP 106 using the EAP-RP. Themobile device 102 may transmit a first authentication frame (e.g., areauthentication-initiation message) to the second AP 106.

At 220, the second AP 106 may transmit an AAA-EAP-request message to theAAA server 108. The AAA-EAP-request message may include the firstauthentication frame in a payload of the AAA-EAP-request message. At222, in response to receiving the AAA-EAP-request message, the AAAserver 108 may transmit an AAA-EAP-answer message (e.g., an EAP finishmessage) to the second AP 106. The AAA-EAP-answer message may include apair-wise master key (PMK) and the first IP address.

At 224, in response to receiving the AAA-EAP-answer message, the secondAP 106 may transmit a second authentication frame (e.g., afinish-reauthentication message) to the mobile device 102. At 226, inresponse to receiving the AAA-EAP-answer message, the mobile device 102may transmit an association request message to the second AP 106. Theassociation request may include key confirmation and a particular IPaddress requested by the mobile device 102. At 228, in response toreceiving the association request message, the second AP 106 may comparethe particular IP address to the first IP address to determine whetherthe particular IP address matches the first IP address.

At 230, when the second AP 106 determines that the particular IP addressmatches the first IP address, the second AP 106 may assign the first IPaddress to the mobile device 102 to be used during the secondassociation period. For example, the second AP 106 may transmit anassociation response message to the mobile device 102. The associationresponse message may include key confirmation, group key distributioninformation, and the first IP address. When the second AP 106 determinesthat the particular IP address does not match the first IP address, thesecond AP 106 may initiate procedures with DHCP server 110 to requestthe DHCP server 110 to assign a “new” IP address to the mobile device102, which may differ from the IP address 154 that was previouslyassigned to the mobile device 102. Assigning a “new” IP address usingthe DHCP server 110 during the second association period is described inmore detail in FIG. 4. When the mobile device 102 receives theassignment of the first IP address, the handoff procedure is completed.At 232, the mobile device 102 may use the first IP address to continuecommunicating with the other mobile device. Thus, a completion time ofthe handoff procedure may be reduced while maintaining communicationbetween the mobile device 102 and the other mobile device (e.g., withoutdropping the VOIP call).

FIG. 3 illustrates another particular embodiment of messaging flows ofthe system 100 of FIG. 1 during a handoff procedure. In particular, FIG.3 illustrates two embodiments of messaging that may be communicatedafter the second AP 106 transmits the AAA-EAP-request message to the AAAserver 108, at 220 of FIG. 2, and prior to the AAA server 108transmitting the AAA-EAP-answer message, at 222 of FIG. 2. The firstembodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 includes messaging flows 302-304, andthe second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 includes messaging flows306-308. In the first embodiment, the DHCP server 110 forwards thepreviously assigned IP address of mobile device 102 to the AAA server108. In the second embodiment, the first AP 104 forwards the IP addressto the AAA server 108. Thus, the messaging 302-304 or 306-308 may becommunicated instead of, or in addition to, the messaging 210-212 ofFIG. 2.

In accordance with the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, at 302,during the second association period, the AAA server 108 may request thefirst IP address (e.g., an IP address assigned to the mobile device 102during a prior association period) from the DHCP server 110 via arequest message. The AAA server 108 may request an IP address assignedto the mobile device 102 during a prior association period (e.g., thefirst IP address) in response to receiving the AAA-EAP-request message(e.g., at 220 of FIG. 2) indicating that the mobile device 102 is in theperforming a handoff procedure and the mobile device 102 has beenassigned an IP address during the prior association period (e.g., thefirst association period). The AAA server 108 may include identificationinformation of the mobile device (e.g., the MAC address, the NAIinformation, etc.) in the request message. Based on the identificationinformation, the DHCP server 110 may retrieve the first IP address thatis assigned to the mobile device 102 during a prior association period.At 304, the DHCP server 110 may transmit the IP address to the AAAserver 108 via a response message in response to receiving the requestmessage. After transmission of the IP address to the AAA server at 304,the messaging 222-232 described with reference to FIG. 2 may becommunicated, as shown.

In accordance with the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the AAAserver 108 may request and receive the IP address from the first AP 104.For example, the AAA server 108 may request the IP address assigned tothe mobile device 102 during the prior association period from the firstAP 104 via a request message during the second association period, at306. At 308, in response to receiving the request message, the first AP104 transmits the first IP address to the AAA server 108. Aftertransmission of the IP address to the AAA server at 308, the messagingflows 222-232 described with reference to FIG. 2 may occur, as shown.

It is noted that FIGS. 2-3 illustrate messaging flows in which the IPaddress requested by the mobile device 102 from the second AP 106matches the IP address that was assigned to the mobile device 102 whilethe mobile device 102 was associated with the first AP 104. Thus, inFIGS. 2-3, the second AP 106 reassigns the same IP address to the mobiledevice 102, at 230, after detecting the match, at 228. However, in somesituations, the mobile device 102 may request the second AP 106 for anIP address that does not match the previously assigned IP address. FIG.4 illustrates an embodiment of messaging flows of the system 100 of FIG.1 during the handoff procedure in such situations. In particular, FIG. 4illustrates messaging flows of the system 100 when the second AP 106determines that the IP address requested by the mobile device 102 doesnot match the IP address 154 assigned to the mobile device 102 duringthe first association period. Thus, messaging illustrated in FIG. 4 maybe communicated after the messaging 202-226 of FIG. 2 and/or themessaging 302-308 of FIG. 3, and may replace the messaging 228-232 ofFIG. 2. At 402, the AAA server 108 may obtain the IP address (e.g., thefirst IP address) assigned to the mobile device 102 during the priorassociation period (e.g., the first association period) from the DHCPserver 110. For example, the AAA server 108 may obtain the first IPaddress during the first association period, during the secondassociation period, prior to the second AP 106 receiving the associationrequest message from the mobile device 102, or after the second AP 106receiving the association request message from the mobile device.

At 404, the AAA server 108 may forward the first IP address to thesecond AP 106. At 406, the second AP 106 may determine that the IPaddress requested by the mobile device 102 does not match the first IPaddress. At 408, in response to a determination that the IP addressrequested by the mobile device 102 does not match the first IP address,the second AP 106 may transmit a request to the DHCP server 110 torequest the DHCP server 110 to assign a “new” IP address to the mobiledevice 102 to be used during the second association period. At 410, inresponse to receiving the request, the DHCP server 110 may assign an IPaddress. The DHCP server 110 may assign the IP address requested by themobile device 102 or another IP address when the requested IP address isnot available. The DHCP server 110 may send the assigned IP address tothe mobile device 102. At 416, the mobile device 102 may use theassigned IP address to communicate with another device.

In an alternative embodiment, at 412, the DHCP server 110 may send theassigned IP address to the second AP 106. At 414, the second AP 106 mayforward the assigned IP address to the mobile device 102.

It should be noted that although various embodiments may be describedherein with reference to handoff during a VOIP call, the presentdisclosure is not so limited. The systems and methods of the presentdisclosure may also enable assignment or reassignment of an IP addressto a device during a non-VOIP connection or a session that may besensitive to an interruption. As illustrative non-limiting examples,during a handoff, a mobile device may receive an assignment orreassignment of an IP address while the mobile device is conducting avideo call and/or a data connection.

FIG. 5 is flowchart to illustrate a particular embodiment of a method500 of operation at an access point (e.g., the second AP 106 of FIG. 1).The method 500 includes receiving, at a second access point (AP), afirst internet protocol (IP) address from a server, at 502. The first IPaddress is assigned to the mobile device during association of themobile device with a first AP. For example, referring to FIG. 1, thesecond AP 106 may obtain the IP address 154 from the AAA server 108. Thesecond AP 106 may obtain the IP address 154 prior to receiving anassociation request from the mobile device 102, where the IP address 154was assigned to the mobile device 102 while the mobile device 102 wasassociated with the first AP 104. The method 500 also includesreceiving, at the second AP based on a handoff of the mobile device fromthe first AP to the second AP, an association request from the mobiledevice, at 504. The association request includes a second IP address.For example, referring to FIG. 1, in response to receiving the secondauthentication frame, the mobile device 102 may request a particular IPaddress from the second AP 106 via an association request message. Theparticular IP address may be the first IP address when a time to live(TTL) period of the first IP address is valid.

The method 500 may further include determining, at 506, whether thefirst IP address matches the second IP address. For example, referringto FIG. 1, the second AP 106 may determine whether the particular IPaddress matches the IP address 154. When the first IP address matchesthe second IP address, the method 500 may include assigning the first IPaddress to the mobile device, at 508. For example, referring to FIG. 1,the second AP 106 may assign the IP address 154 to the mobile device 102to complete the handoff procedure. When the first IP address does notmatch the second IP address, the method 500 may include communicatingwith a DHCP server to obtain a third IP address, at 510, and assigningthe third IP address to the mobile device, at 512. For example,referring to FIG. 1, the second AP 106 may communicate with the DHCPserver 110 to receive a third (e.g., “new”) IP address and assign thethird IP address to the mobile device 102. Thus, when a requested IPaddress matches a previously assigned IP address, the method 500 enablesan access point (AP) to assign a mobile device an IP address during ahandoff procedure without communicating with a DHCP server. A completiontime of the handoff procedure may be reduced by use of the method 500 ascompared to using a DHCP server to assign the IP address during thehandoff procedure.

FIG. 6 illustrates a particular embodiment of a method 600 of operationat a mobile device (e.g., the mobile device 102 of FIG. 1). The method600 includes receiving, at a mobile device during a first associationwith a first access point (AP), a first internet protocol (IP) addressassigned by a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server, at 602.For example, referring to FIG. 1, the DHCP server 110 may assign the IPaddress 154 to the mobile device 102 via the connection 156.

The method 600 includes initiating, at the mobile device, acommunication via the first AP, at 604. The method 600 also includes,based on handoff of the mobile device from the first AP to a second APand determining that a time to live (TTL) period of the IP address isvalid, sending an association request from the mobile device to thesecond AP to request reassignment of the first IP address by the secondAP, at 606. For example, referring to FIG. 1, the mobile device 102 mayrequest a reassignment of the IP address 154 from the second AP 106during handoff of the mobile device from the first AP 104 to the secondAP 106. The method 600 may also include receiving the first IP addressat the mobile device during a second association with the second AP,where the first IP address is reassigned to the mobile device by thesecond AP, at 608. For example, when the second AP 106 determines thatthe particular IP address matches the IP address 154, the second AP 106may reassign the IP address 154 to the mobile device 102 to complete thehandoff procedure. The method 600 includes continuing the communicationsession via the second AP using the first IP address, at 610.

The method 600 further includes, in response to determining that the TTLperiod has expired, requesting a second IP address from the second AP,at 612, and receiving the second IP address from the second AP, at 614.For example, referring to FIG. 1, after the TTL period of the IP address154 has expired, the mobile device 102 may request and receive anassignment of a second IP address from the second AP 106. The second IPaddress may be the same as the first IP address (e.g., the mobile deviceis reassigned the first IP address with a reset TTL) or the second IPaddress may be different from the first IP address.

In an illustrative embodiment, the mobile device requests the first IPaddress, the second IP address, or both via an association requestmessage. The IP address(es) may be communicated via an AAA message, anEAP message, a RADIUS message, or a combination thereof. Moreover, in aparticular embodiment, the mobile device may communicate with the firstAP using a cellular connection or a connection compliant with an IEEEstandard (e.g., an IEEE 802.11 connection). The mobile device may alsocommunicate with the second AP using a connection compliant with an IEEEstandard.

Thus, the method 600 enables a mobile device to be assigned an IPaddress by an AP during a handoff procedure without communicating with aDHCP server. A completion time of the handoff procedure may be reducedby use of the method 600 as compared to using a DHCP server to assignthe IP address during the handoff procedure.

FIG. 7 illustrates a particular embodiment of a method 700 of operationat an AAA server (e.g., the AAA server 108 of FIG. 1). The method 700includes receiving, at an authentication, authorization, and accounting(AAA) server, an internet protocol address from a device, at 702. The IPaddress is assigned to a mobile device associated with a first accesspoint (AP) during a first association period. For example, referring toFIG. 1, the AAA server 108 may obtain the IP address 154 from the DHCPserver 110. The DHCP server 110 may assign an IP address 154 to themobile device 102 via the connection 156 during the first associationperiod.

The method 700 also includes transmitting the IP address to a second APto be used during a second association period, at 704. For example, thesecond AP 106 may obtain the IP address 154 from the AAA server 108.Thus, the method 700 enables an AAA server to transmit an IP address toan AP to enable the AP to perform IP address assignment during a handoffprocedure. A completion time of the handoff procedure may be reduced byuse of the method 700 as compared to using a DHCP server to assign theIP address during the handoff procedure.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart to illustrate a particular embodiment of a method800 of operation at a DHCP server (e.g., the DHCP server 110 of FIG. 1).The method 800 includes assigning an internet protocol (IP) address to amobile device from a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) serverduring a first association period, at 802. For example, referring toFIG. 1, the DHCP server 110 may assign an IP address 154 to the mobiledevice 102 via the connection 156.

The method 800 also includes transmitting the IP address to anauthentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server to be usedduring a second association period, at 804. For example, referring toFIG. 1, the AAA server 108 may obtain the IP address 154 from the DHCPserver 110. Thus, the method 800 enables a DHCP server to forward an IPaddress to an AAA server, so that the AAA server may forward the IPaddress to an AP to be assigned by the AP during a handoff procedure. Acompletion time of the handoff procedure may be reduced by use of themethod 800 as compared to using a DHCP server to assign the IP addressduring the handoff procedure.

FIG. 9 illustrates another particular embodiment of a method 900 ofoperation at a server (e.g., the AAA server 108 of FIG. 1). The method900 includes receiving, from a server, an IP address assigned to amobile device prior to an association period, at 902. For example,referring to FIG. 1, the AAA server 108 may receive the IP address 154from the DHCP server 110.

The method 900 also includes transmitting a message to an access pointduring the association period, at 902. In an illustrative embodiment,the message may be an AAA message, an EAP message, a RADIUS message, orany combination thereof. The message includes the IP address assigned tothe mobile device prior to the association period. For example,referring to FIG. 1, the AAA server 108 may include both the IP address154 and the identification information of the mobile device 102 in themessage. Thus, the method 900 enables an AAA server to transmit an IPaddress to an AP, so that the AP may assign the IP address during ahandoff procedure. A completion time of the handoff procedure may bereduced by use of the method 900 as compared to using a DHCP server toassign the IP address during the handoff procedure.

FIG. 10 illustrates a particular embodiment of a method 1000 ofoperation at the system 100 of FIG. 1. The method 1000 may correspond tothe messaging flows of FIGS. 2-4. The method 1000 includes associating amobile device with a first AP, at 1002. The mobile device isauthenticated at an AAA server and is assigned a first IP address from aDHCP server. For example, the mobile device 102 may associate with thefirst AP 104 during a first association period. To illustrate, themobile device 102 may receive a beacon or probe response message fromthe first AP 104, as shown at 202, and the mobile device 102 mayassociate with the first AP 104 based on information in the receivedbeacon or probe response message. The AAA server 108 may authenticatethe mobile device 102, as shown at 204-206, and the DHCP server mayassign the mobile device 102 a first IP address, as shown at 208.

The method 1000 may also include obtaining the first IP address at theAAA server from the DHCP server, at 1004. For example, the AAA server108 may obtain the first IP address from the DHCP server 110, as shownat 210-212. In FIG. 10, the step 1004 is shown in dashed lines and maybe optional (e.g., the AAA server may instead obtain the first IPaddress at another time, as further described herein).

The method 1000 further includes initiating a communication session atthe mobile device via the first AP, at 1006. For example, the mobiledevice 102 may initiate a communication session (e.g., a VOIP call, avideo call, a data connection, etc.) via the first AP 104 using thefirst IP address, as shown at 214.

The method 1000 includes initiating a handoff from the first AP to asecond AP while the communication session is ongoing, at 1008. Forexample, the mobile device 102 may approach an edge of a coverage areaof the first AP 104, where a signal strength of the second AP 106 isstronger than a signal strength of the first AP 104. The mobile device102 may be aware of the second AP 106 based on neighbor informationreceived in a beacon or probe response message from the first AP 104, at202, or based on a beacon or probe response received from the second AP106, at 216. Thus, the mobile device 102 may send a reauthenticationrequest to the second AP 106, as shown at 218, and the second AP 106 maysend a reauthentication request to the AAA server 108, as shown at 220.

The method 1000 further includes reauthenticating the mobile device atthe AAA server, at 1010. For example, the AAA server 108 mayreauthenticate the mobile device 102 and send the second AP 106 areauthentication response, as shown at 222. In a particular embodiment,the reauthentication response includes the first IP address, which waspreviously assigned to the mobile device 102 and which was obtained bythe AAA server, at 1004. To illustrate, the method 1000 may includeobtaining the first IP address at the AAA server from the DHCP server orfrom the first AP, at 1012. Obtaining the first IP address from the DHCPserver 110 may involve the messaging flows 302-304 and/or 402. Obtainingthe first IP address from the first AP 104 may involve the messagingflows 306-308. Providing the first IP address to the second AP 106 mayinvolve the messaging flows 222 and/or 404.

The method 1000 includes providing the first IP address to the secondAP, at 1014. For example, the AAA server 108 may provide the first IPaddress to the second AP 106 using the messaging flows 222 and/or 404.The method 1000 also includes receiving a request for a second IPaddress from the mobile device at the second AP, at 1016. For example,after reauthentication is completed, at 224, the second AP 106 mayreceive a request from the mobile device 102 for a second IP address, asshown at 226. When the TTL of the first IP address is valid, the mobiledevice 102 may request reassignment of the first IP address (i.e., mayindicate a desire to continue using the first IP address while beingassociated with the second AP 106). Alternatively, if the TTL of thefirst IP address has expired, the mobile device 102 may request adifferent IP address from the second AP 106.

Continuing to 1018, the method 1000 includes determining at the secondAP whether the second IP address being requested by the mobile devicematches the first IP address that was previously assigned to the mobiledevice, at 1002. If the second IP address matches the first IP address,the method 1000 includes the second AP reassigning the (same) first IPaddress to the mobile device, at 1020. For example, the second AP 106may determine that the second IP address and the first IP address match,as shown at 228, and may reassign the first IP address to the mobiledevice 102, as shown at 230. The method 1000 also includes the mobiledevice continuing the communication session via the second AP, at 1026.For example, the mobile device 102 may continue the communicationsession (e.g., VOIP call, video call, data connection etc.) using thereassigned first IP address via the second AP 106, as shown at 232.

Alternatively, the second AP may determine that the second IP addressdoes not match the first IP address. When the second IP address does notmatch the first IP address, the method 1000 includes requesting the DHCPserver to assign a “new” (e.g., third) IP address to the mobile device,at 1022. For example, the second AP 106 may determine that the second IPaddress does not match the first IP address, as shown at 406, and thesecond AP 106 request the DHCP server to assign a new IP address to themobile device 102, as shown at 408. The method 1000 also includesreceiving assignment of the “new” IP address at the mobile device at1024. For example, the mobile device 102 may receive the assignment ofthe “new” IP address from the DHCP server 110, as shown at 410.Alternatively, the DHCP server 110 may send the “new” IP address to thesecond AP 106, as shown at 412, and the second AP 106 may forward the“new” IP address to the mobile device 102, as shown at 414. Continuingto 1026, the mobile device 102 may continue the communication session(e.g., VOIP call, video call, data connection etc.) using the “new” IPaddress via the second AP 106, as shown at 416.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a communication device 1100 includingcomponents that are operable to receive an assignment of IP address froman AP (e.g., the second AP 106) of FIG. 1 during a handoff procedure. Inan illustrative embodiment, the communication device 1100 may be themobile device 102 of FIG. 1. In another illustrative embodiment, thecommunication device 1100, or components thereof, include or areincluded within the mobile device 102. Further, all or part of themethod described in FIG. 5 may be performed at or by the communicationdevice 1100 when the communication device 1100 is implemented as amobile device (e.g., the mobile device 102). All or part of the methoddescribed in FIG. 6 may be performed at or by the communication device1100 when the communication device 1100 is implemented as an AP (e.g.,the second AP 106). All or part of the method described in FIGS. 7 and 9may be performed at or by the communication device 1100 when thecommunication device 1100 is implemented as an AAA server (e.g., the AAAserver 108). All or part of the method described in FIG. 8 may beperformed at or by the communication device 1100 when the communicationdevice 1100 is implemented as a DHCP server (e.g., the DHCP server 110).

The communication device 1100 may include a processor 1102 (e.g., adigital signal processor) coupled to a memory 1104. The memory 1104 maybe a non-transitory tangible computer-readable and/or processor-readablestorage device that stores instructions 1106. The instructions 1106 maybe executable by the processor 1102 to perform one or more functions ormethods described herein, such as the method described with reference toFIG. 5 when the communication device 1100 is implemented as a mobiledevice (e.g., the mobile device 102). The instructions 1106 may beexecutable by the processor 1102 to perform the method described withreference to FIG. 6 when the communication device 1100 is implemented asan AP (e.g., the second AP 106). The instructions 1106 may be executableby the processor 1102 to perform the method described with reference toFIGS. 7 and 9 when the communication device 1100 is implemented as anAAA server (e.g., the AAA server 108). The instructions 1106 may beexecutable by the processor 1102 to perform the method described withreference to FIG. 8 when the communication device 1100 is implemented asa DHCP server (e.g., the DHCP server 110). The instructions 1106 mayalso be executable by the processor 1102 to perform at least a portionof the method 1000 of FIG. 10. In a particular embodiment, the processor1102 may include a signal detector, as further described with referenceto FIG. 18.

The memory 1104 may also include a first assigned IP address 1130. Thefirst assigned IP address 1130 may be an IP address assigned to thecommunication device 1100 by a DHCP server during a first associationperiod. For example, the first assigned IP address 1130 may be the IPaddress 154 of FIG. 1. The memory 1104 may further include a secondassigned IP address 1132. The second assigned IP address 1132 may be anIP address assigned to the communication device 1100 by an AP during asecond association period. For example, the second assigned IP address1132 may be the IP address 154 or another IP address (e.g., when a TTLperiod of the IP address 154 has elapsed).

FIG. 11 shows that the communication device 1100 may also include adisplay controller 1108 that is coupled to the processor 1102 and to adisplay device 1110. A coder/decoder (CODEC) 1120 can also be coupled tothe processor 1102. A speaker 1114 and a microphone 1116 can be coupledto the CODEC 1120. FIG. 11 also indicates that a wireless controller1124 may be coupled to the processor 1102, where the wireless controller1124 is in communication with an antenna 1128 via a transceiver 1126. Ina particular embodiment, the transceiver 1126 includes or is coupled toa radio frequency (RF) interface, as further described with reference toFIG. 18. The wireless controller 1124, the transceiver 1126, and theantenna 1128 may thus represent a wireless interface that enableswireless communication by the communication device 1100. For example, inan embodiment where the communication device 1100 is the mobile device102, such a wireless interface may be used to communicate with the firstAP 104, the second AP 106, or the DHCP server 110 of FIG. 1. Thecommunication device 1100 may include numerous wireless interfaces,where different wireless networks are configured to support differentnetworking technologies or combinations of networking technologies. Forexample, the communication device 1100 may include an IEEE wirelessinterface and/or a cellular interface.

In a particular embodiment, the processor 1102, the display controller1108, the memory 1104, the CODEC 1120, the wireless controller 1124, thetransceiver 1126, are included in a system-in-package or system-on-chipdevice 1122. In a particular embodiment, an input device 1112 and apower supply 1118 are coupled to the system-on-chip device 1122.Moreover, in a particular embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 11, thedisplay device 1110, the input device 1112, the speaker 1114, themicrophone 1116, the antenna 1128, and the power supply 1118 areexternal to the system-on-chip device 1122. However, each of the displaydevice 1110, the input device 1112, the speaker 1114, the microphone1116, the antenna 1128, and the power supply 1118 can be coupled to acomponent of the system-on-chip device 1122, such as an interface or acontroller.

One or more components of the communication device 1100 or componentsanalogous thereto, may be integrated into a wireless device, such as themobile device 102. For example, the mobile device 102 may include awireless controller, a transceiver, an antenna, a processor, and amemory storing instructions executable by a processor to perform all orpart of the method of FIG. 5 and/or the method of FIG. 10.

One or more components of the communication device 1100 or componentsanalogous thereto, may be integrated into an AP, such as the second AP106. For example, the second AP 106 may include a wireless controller, atransceiver, an antenna, a processor, and a memory storing instructionsexecutable by a processor to perform all or part of the method of FIG. 6and/or the method of FIG. 10.

One or more components of the communication device 1100 or componentsanalogous thereto, may be integrated into an AAA server, such as the AAAserver 108. For example, the AAA server 108 may include a wirelesscontroller, a transceiver, an antenna, a processor, and a memory storinginstructions executable by a processor to perform all or part of one ormore of the methods of FIG. 7, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10.

One or more components of the communication device 1100 or componentsanalogous thereto, may be integrated into a DHCP server, such as theDHCP server 110. For example, the DHCP server 110 may include a wirelesscontroller, a transceiver, an antenna, a processor, and a memory storinginstructions executable by a processor to perform all or part of themethod of FIG. 8 and/or the method of FIG. 10.

In conjunction with the described embodiments, an apparatus may includemeans for receiving. The means for receiving is configured to receive,at a mobile device, during a first association with a first access point(AP), a first assignment of an internet protocol (IP) address by adynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server. The means forreceiving is also configured to receive, at the mobile device, during asecond association with a second AP, a second assignment of the IPaddress by the second AP. For example, the means for receiving mayinclude one or more components (e.g., a receiver) of the mobile device102, the wireless controller 1124 of FIG. 11, the transceiver 1126, theantenna 1128, one or more devices configured to receive data, or acombination thereof. The apparatus may also include means forcommunicating with a server. For example, the means for communicatingwith a server may include one or more components (e.g., the processor112) of the mobile device 102, the processor 1102, the wirelesscontroller 1124, the transceiver 1126, the antenna 1128, one or moredevices configured to communicate with a server, or a combinationthereof.

A second apparatus may include means for receiving. The means forreceiving is configured to receive, at an access point (AP), anassociation request from a mobile device. The association requestincludes a first internet protocol (IP) address. The means for receivingis also configured to receive, at the AP, a second IP address from aserver. For example, the means for receiving may include one or morecomponents (e.g., a receiver) of the first AP 104, one or morecomponents (e.g., a receiver) of the second AP 106, one or more devicesconfigured to receive data, or a combination thereof. The secondapparatus may also include means for assigning. The means for assigningis configured to assign the first IP address to the mobile device inresponse to a determination that the first IP address matches the secondIP address. For example, the means for assigning may include one or morecomponents (e.g., the processor 118) of the first AP 104, one or morecomponents (e.g., the processor 136) of the second AP 106, one or moredevices configured to assign an IP address, or a combination thereof.

A third apparatus may include means for assigning an internet protocol(IP) address to a mobile device from a dynamic host configurationprotocol (DHCP) server during a first association period. For example,the means for assigning may include one or more components (e.g., theprocessor 130) of the DHCP server 110, one or more devices configured toassign an IP address, or a combination thereof. The third apparatus mayalso include means for transmitting the IP address to an authentication,authorization, and accounting (AAA) server to be used during a secondassociation period. The means for transmitting may include one or morecomponents (e.g., a transmitter) of the DHCP server 110, one or moredevices configured to transmit data, or a combination thereof.

A fourth apparatus may include means for receiving, at anauthentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server, an internetprotocol address from a device. The IP address is assigned to a mobiledevice associated with a first access point (AP) during a firstassociation period. For example, the means for receiving may include oneor more components (e.g., a receiver) of the AAA server, one or moredevices configured to receive data, or a combination thereof. The fourthapparatus may also include means for transmitting the IP address to asecond AP to be used during a second association period. For example,the means for transmitting may include one or more components (e.g., atransmitter) of the AAA server 108, one or more devices configured totransmit data, or a combination thereof.

A fifth apparatus may include means for transmitting an authentication,authorization, and accounting (AAA)-Extensible Authentication Protocol(EAP)-Answer message from an AAA server to an access point during anassociation period. The AAA-EAP-Answer message includes an internetprotocol (IP) address assigned to a mobile device prior to theassociation period. For example, the means for transmitting may includeone or more components (e.g., a transmitter) of the AAA server 108, oneor more devices configured to transmit data, or a combination thereof.The fifth apparatus may also include means for communicating with adevice. For example, the means for communicating may include one or morecomponents (e.g., a processor) of the AAA server 108, the processor 124,the wireless controller 1124, the transceiver 1126, the antenna 1128,one or more devices configured to communicate with a device, or acombination thereof.

Thus, FIGS. 1-11 illustrate certain example techniques for reducinglatency in a wireless communication system. Alternatively or in additionto the examples of FIGS. 1-11, latency in a wireless communicationsystem can be reduced using one or more techniques illustrated withreference to FIGS. 12-18, such as by utilizing an indication thatidentifies whether a mobile device may avoid certain DHCPreconfiguration operations.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a wireless communication system 1200 inwhich aspects of the present disclosure can be employed. Certaincomponents and operations of the wireless communication system 1200include an access point (AP) 1204 a, which communicates with one or moremobile devices, such as stations (STAs) 1206 a-1206 d, in a basicservice area (BSA) 1207 a. The wireless communication system 1200 canfurther include an AP 1204 b which can communicate within a particularrange, such as a BSA 1207 b. One or more STAs 1206 can move in and/orout of the BSAs 1207 a-1207 b. In various embodiments described herein,the STAs 1206 and 1206 a-1206 d can be configured to quickly establishwireless links with the AP 1204 a and/or 1204 b, particularly whenmoving into the BSAs 1207 a and/or 1207 b.

The APs 1204 a-b may communicate with one or more dynamic hostconfiguration protocol (DHCP) servers that manage certain InternetProtocol (IP) communications within the BSAs 1207 a-b. For example, aDHCP server 1210 a may distribute network configuration parameters, suchas IP addresses, to mobile devices, such as the STAs 1206 a-d via the AP1204 a. The APs 1204 a-b may each communicate with a common server, suchas the DHCP server 1210 a. Alternatively, the AP 1204 b may communicatewith another DHCP server, such as a DHCP server 1210 b.

A device of FIG. 12 may communicate using a fast initial link setup(FILS) technique that utilizes an indication 1209 to indicate whetherAPs correspond to (e.g., are managed by) a common DHCP server ordifferent DHCP servers. To illustrate, the STA 1206 a may communicatewith the AP 1204 a. Communicating with the AP 1204 a may includerequesting DHCP information (e.g., an IP address) from the DHCP server1210 a via the AP 1204 a while establishing wireless connectivity withthe AP 1204 a (e.g., during “link setup” with the AP 1204 a). If a userof the STA 1206 a leaves the BSA 1207 a and enters the BSA 1207 b(represented in FIG. 12 by a path 1220), the STA 1206 a may terminatecommunications with the AP 1204 a and may initiate communications withthe AP 1204 b using a link setup procedure to establish connectivitywith the AP 1204 a (e.g., by registering with the AP 1204 b, performingauthentication and/or association procedures via the AP 1204 b,performing one or more other operations to establish wirelessconnectivity, etc.).

In accordance with the present disclosure, the AP 1204 b may send anindication 1209 to the STA 1206 a specifying whether the STA 1206 a isable to communicate with the AP 1204 b using the DHCP information. Toillustrate, if the APs 1204 a-b are each managed by a common DHCP server(e.g., the DHCP server 1210 a), then the APs 1204 a-b may “recognize”common DHCP credentials (i.e., may each use the same set or “pool” of IPaddresses). Link setup between the STA 1206 a and the AP 1204 b mayinclude an authentication process that includes communicating with aserver 1212 during the authentication process. The server 1212 maycorrespond to an authentication server (AS) and/or a server thatoperates in accordance with an Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP),such as an EAP re-authentication (ER) server, as illustrative examples.Certain authentication protocols (e.g., an EAP-compliant authenticationprocedure) may specify that information associated with the AP 1204 a,such as an EAP network address identifier (NAI), is to be transmitted bythe STA 1206 a to the server 1212 during link setup with the AP 1204 bto authenticate the STA 1206 a.

During the authentication process, the server 1212 may determine thatthe STA 1206 a has moved between APs of a common network and that DHCPreconfiguration may be avoided. For example, the server 1212 may parsecontents of communications sent by the STA 1206 a to the AP 1204 bduring the authentication process to identify information associatedwith the AP 1204 a, such as the NAI. In this case, the server 1212 mayprovide the same network flag to the AP 1204 b indicating DHCPreconfiguration may be avoided, and the indication 1209 may have a valueindicating that DHCP reconfiguration can be avoided. In other cases, theindication 1209 may have another value. For example, if the APs 1204 a-bare associated with different DHCP servers (e.g., the DHCP servers 1210a-b, respectively), then the indication 1209 may have a value indicatingthat DHCP reconfiguration is to be performed by the STA 1206 a (e.g., bysending a DHCP request to the DHCP server 1210 b via the AP 1204 b).

The techniques of FIG. 12 may reduce latency of communications withinthe wireless communication system 1200. For example, based on theindication 1209, a mobile device (such as the STA 1206 a) may avoid DHCPreconfiguration. Instead, the mobile device may initiate IPcommunications (e.g., sending and/or receiving email, videos, pictures,etc.) sooner as compared to a system in which DHCP reconfiguration isperformed automatically during each link setup procedure.

The various fast initial link setup (FILS) implementations describedherein can provide enhanced system performance under a variety of useconditions. In some embodiments, when a mobile device transitions fromone access point to another, the mobile device prefers an authenticationand association process with the new access point. A portion of theauthentication and association process includes a request for a new IPaddress that may be used for IP communication via the new access point.This request for a new IP address may add additional latency to theauthentication and association process, delaying establishment of IPcommunications utilizing the new access point. This request for a new IPaddress may also contribute to additional network data traffic,increasing utilization of the communication network and contributing topacket collisions.

This request for a new IP address when authenticating and associatingwith a new access point may be unnecessary under some circumstances. Forexample, if the new access point provides IP communication via the sameIP network as the previous access point, the previous IP address usedfor IP communication with that access point may be compatible for usewith the new access point. In this case, there is no need to request anew IP address.

In some other environments, a mobile device may be authenticating andassociating with many access points over a period of time, some of whichmay provide IP communications services using the same IP network. Forexample, in one scenario, a mobile user walks down a sidewalk in a largemetro area. The mobile user may encounter a variety of merchants, someof which provide IP communications capabilities to their patrons. The IPcommunications may be set up using FILS procedure, such as via an IEEE802.11ai technique. As the mobile user come within range of eachmerchant's access point, their mobile device may perform anauthentication and association process. With a conventional technique,each authentication and association process requests a new IP addressbefore communication is established (e.g., before user data can be sentand received).

In some environments, several of these merchants may provide IPcommunications via a common IP network. For example, three majorbusiness Internet providers may maintain dominant market share in theregion. In this example, as the mobile user walks down the street, themobile device may initiate a FILS procedure with each of the three IPnetworks. To the extent that any one or more of these three IP networksare seen multiple times by the mobile device during the walk, a requestfor a new IP address within an IP network previously associated withduring the walk may be unnecessary.

Some of the embodiments disclosed herein provide an ability for themobile device to store information relating to previously accessed IPnetworks. When authenticating and associating with a previously accessedIP network, a previously obtained IP address may be reused, assuming theIP address continues to meet certain quality and other criteria. Thismay reduce latency in establishing IP communication with a network,while also reducing the amount of network overhead introduced by themobile device.

Note that while the term “IP network” is used throughout thisdisclosure, this term may also be used to refer to an IP sub-network orsubnet. The subnet to which the term may refer may be part of a singlephysical subnet or may be distributed over multiple physical subnets.

In various embodiments, the wireless communication system 1200 caninclude a wireless local area network (WLAN). The WLAN can be used tointerconnect nearby devices, employing one or more networking protocols.The various aspects described herein can apply to any communicationstandard, such as IEEE 802.11 wireless protocols. For example, thevarious aspects described herein can be used as part of the IEEE802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ah, and/or 802.11ai protocols.Implementations of the 802.11 protocols can be used for sensors, homeautomation, personal healthcare networks, surveillance networks,metering, smart grid networks, intra- and inter-vehicle communication,emergency coordination networks, cellular (e.g., 3G/4G) network offload,short- and/or long-range Internet access (e.g., for use with hotspots),machine-to-machine (M2M) communications, etc.

The APs 1204 a-1204 b can serve as a hub or base station for thewireless communication system 1200. For example, the AP 1204 a canprovide wireless communication coverage in the BSA 1207 a, and the AP1204 b can provide wireless communication coverage in the BSA 1207 b.The AP 1204 a and/or 1204 b can include, be implemented as, or known asa NodeB, Radio Network Controller (RNC), eNodeB, Base Station Controller(BSC), Base Transceiver Station (BTS), Base Station (BS), TransceiverFunction (TF), Radio Router, Radio Transceiver, or some otherterminology.

The STAs 1206 and 1206 a-1206 d (collectively referred to herein as STAs1206) can include a variety of devices such as, for example, laptopcomputers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobile phones, etc. TheSTAs 1206 can connect to, or associate with, the APs 1204 a-1204 b via aWiFi (e.g., IEEE 802.11 protocol such as 802.11ai) compliant wirelesslink to obtain general connectivity to the Internet or to other widearea networks. The STAs 1206 may also be referred to as “clients.”

In various embodiments, the STAs 1206 can include, be implemented as, orbe known as access terminals (ATs), subscriber stations, subscriberunits, mobile stations, remote stations, remote terminals, userterminals (UTs), terminals, user agents, user devices, user equipment(UEs), or some other terminology. In some implementations, a STA 1206can include a cellular telephone, a cordless telephone, a SessionInitiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, apersonal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device having wirelessconnection capability, or some other suitable processing deviceconnected to a wireless modem. Accordingly, one or more aspects taughtherein can be incorporated into a phone (e.g., a cellular phone orsmartphone), a computer (e.g., a laptop), a portable communicationdevice, a headset, a portable computing device (e.g., a personal dataassistant), an entertainment device (e.g., a music or video device, or asatellite radio), a gaming device or system, a global positioning systemdevice, or any other suitable device that is configured to communicatevia a wireless medium.

The AP 1204 a, along with the STAs 1206 a-1206 d associated with the AP1204 a, and that are configured to use the AP 1204 a for communication,can be referred to as a basic service set (BSS). In some embodiments,the wireless communication system 1200 may correspond to a “distributed”network that does not have a central AP. For example, in someembodiments, the wireless communication system 1200 can function as apeer-to-peer network between the STAs 1206. Accordingly, operations ofthe AP 1204 a described herein can be performed by one or more of theSTAs 1206 in some cases. Moreover the AP 1204 a can implement one ormore aspects described with respect to the STAs 1206, in someembodiments.

A communication link that facilitates transmission from the AP 1204 a toone or more of the STAs 1206 can be referred to as a downlink (DL), anda communication link that facilitates transmission from one or more ofthe STAs 1206 to the AP 1204 a can be referred to as an uplink (UL).Alternatively, a downlink can be referred to as a forward link or aforward channel, and an uplink can be referred to as a reverse link or areverse channel.

A variety of processes and methods can be used for transmissions in thewireless communication system 1200 between the AP 1204 a and the STAs1206. In some aspects, wireless signals can be transmitted usingorthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM), direct-sequencespread spectrum (DSSS) communications, a combination of OFDM and DSSScommunications, or other schemes. For example, signals can be sent andreceived between the AP 1204 a and the STAs 1206 in accordance withOFDM/OFDMA processes. Accordingly, the wireless communication system1200 can be referred to as an OFDM/OFDMA system. As another example,signals can be sent and received between the AP 1204 a and the STAs 1206in accordance with CDMA processes. Accordingly, the wirelesscommunication system 1200 can be referred to as a CDMA system.

Aspects of certain devices (such as the AP 1204 a and the STAs 1206) canbe used to transmit wireless signals across a relatively long range, forexample about one kilometer or longer. As described in greater detailherein, in some embodiments, devices can be configured to establishwireless links faster than devices implementing other wirelessprotocols.

Generally, in IEEE 802.11 protocols, authentication takes place betweena mobile device and an authentication server (e.g., a server thatprovides authentication services, such as identity verification,authorization, privacy, and non-repudiation). For example, the AP, whichfunctions as an authenticator, relays messages between the mobile deviceand the authentication server during the authentication process. In someinstances, the authentication messages between the mobile device and theAP are transported using extensible authentication protocol over localarea network (EAPOL) frames. EAPOL frames may be defined in the IEEE802.11ai protocol. The authentication messages between the AP and theauthentication server may be transported using the remote authenticationdial in user service (RADIUS) protocol or the Diameter authentication,authorization, and accounting protocol.

Certain wireless communication techniques that enable fast initial linksetup (e.g., in IEEE 802.11ai) may specify that association proceduresare to be performed after authentication procedures. Such techniques maycause a delay in wireless communications. Particular examples ofauthentication and association procedures in a conventionalcommunication system are described to illustrate such delay. In anexample conventional link setup procedure, an AP may transmit a beaconthat enables “discovery” of the AP by devices. The beacon may bereceived by a mobile device. After detecting the beacon, the mobiledevice may initiate an extensible authentication protocol (EAP)authentication with the AP. The AP may perform an authenticationprocedure with an authentication server to authenticate the mobiledevice.

During the authentication procedure, the mobile device may transmit anauthentication frame to the AP. The authentication frame may be an EAPOLframe that includes an EAP re-authentication initiation message, such asin connection with an EAP Re-authentication Protocol. After receivingthe authentication frame from the mobile device, the AP may transmit anauthentication request to the authentication server. The authenticationrequest may be an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA)EAP Request (e.g., an EAP payload), which may include the EAPre-authentication initiation message.

The authentication server may transmit an authentication answer to theAP in response to the authentication request from the AP. Theauthentication answer may be an AAA EAP Answer (e.g., an EAP payload),which may include an indication of whether authentication succeeded orfailed (i.e., whether or not the mobile device is authenticated). Forexample, the authentication answer may include an EAP success message oran EAP failure message. The authentication answer may also indicate apairwise master key (PMK), which may be used by the AP to encrypt datacommunications.

Upon receiving the authentication answer from the authentication server,the AP may transmit an authentication frame to the mobile device. Theauthentication frame may be an EAPOL frame and may include an EAPfinish-re-authentication message (e.g., which is part of the EAPRe-authentication Protocol), which indicates whether authenticationsucceeded or failed.

After receiving the authentication frame from the AP, the mobile devicemay transmit an association request to the AP to initiate associationwith the AP. The association request may be an EAPOL frame and mayinclude a key confirmation. To associate with the mobile device, the APmay perform a DHCP request/reply exchange with a DHCP server to obtainan IP address for the mobile device to enable the mobile device toperform IP communications via the AP.

To illustrate, the association request sent from the mobile device tothe AP may include a DHCP request. The DHCP request may indicate thatthe AP is to obtain an IP address for use by the mobile device. Uponreceiving the association request, the AP may forward the DHCP requestto the DHCP server. The DHCP server then allocates an IP address for themobile device, such as by selecting the IP address from a group ofavailable IP addresses. After the IP address has been selected, the DHCPserver transmits a DHCP acknowledgement message to the AP. The DHCPacknowledge message may include an indication of the IP address.

The AP may transmit an association response to the association requestto the mobile device. The association response may be an EAPOL frame andmay include a key confirmation and/or a group-key distribution, whichcan be used to encrypt data traffic for data communications. Afterreceiving the association response, the mobile device may transmit andreceive IP packets using the IP address (e.g., to browse the Internet,send and receive emails, etc.).

Therefore, an association process between a mobile device and an AP in aconventional communication system may include a DHCP request/responseexchange between the AP and the DHCP server. The DHCP request/responseexchange may result in latency between transmission of the associationrequest and reception of the association response by the mobile device(e.g., latency while the DHCP server selects the IP address for themobile device).

In connection with the present disclosure, latency associated with aDHCP request/response may be avoided in certain circumstances. Forexample, the mobile device may have previously obtained a valid IPaddress to use for IP communication with a first AP. The IP address mayalso be compatible with IP communication via a second AP. Accordingly,performing an additional DHCP request/response procedure to obtain a newIP address (when an existing IP address could be used) results inadditional latency that may be avoided in some circumstances.

To further illustrate, a mobile device may move across a series ofaccess points located within a particular building. The building may beunder the operation of a common entity, such as a corporation. At leasta substantial portion of the corporation's IP communication may beperformed within a single IP network or a single IP subnet. The IPsubnet may be part of a single physical subnet or may be distributedover multiple physical subnets. Therefore, as the mobile device moveswithin the building and comes under the coverage area of a variety ofaccess points within the building, the mobile device may performauthentication and association with each of the access points. In aconventional communication system, the mobile device may repeatedlyrequest multiple IP addresses by sending DHCP requests to the accesspoints when connecting to each of the access points. However, if eachaccess point within the building performs IP communications using thesame IP network or IP subnet, the IP address obtained via associationwith one access point may be used when performing IP communications witheach of the other access points within the building. Therefore, in thisexample, one or more of the DHCP requests may be avoided by using the IPaddress for IP communications with each of the access points.

Various embodiments that reduce link setup latency are described herein.Depending on the particular network configuration, latency may bereduced using an Extensible Authentication Protocol re-authentication(ER) server. Alternatively, one or more networks may not include an ERserver. An example communication sequence using an ER server isdescribed with reference to FIG. 14. FIG. 13 describes communicationsthat may not utilize an ER server.

FIG. 13 shows an exemplary communication exchange 1300 in a wirelesscommunication system, such as the wireless communication system 1200 ofFIG. 12. Signaling is shown between an STA 1206, APs 1204 a and 1204 b,a DHCP server 1309, and an authentication server 1308 during anauthentication and association process. The APs 1204 a and 1204 b may beincluded in a common network. For example, the APs may be managed by acommon DHCP server, such as the DHCP server 1309.

The communication exchange 1300 depicts an initial link setup 1301between the STA 1206 and the AP 1204 a. The initial link setup 1301 mayinclude EAP communications 1302, 1303 and a DHCP communication 1304. TheDHCP communication 1304 may include requesting and obtaining DHCPinformation, such as an IP address (IPAddr1). During the initial linksetup procedure 1301, the authentication server 1308 may identify anetwork associated with the STA 1206. For example, the authenticationserver 1308 may store a network address identifier (NAI), such as akeyName-NAI, associated with the STA 1206 in the EAP communication 1303.The authentication server 1308 may store the keyName-NAI and anassociation between the STA 1206 and the keyName-NAI.

The communication exchange 1300 further depicts a fast initial linksetup 1307 between the STA 1206 and the AP 1204 b, such as in responseto a user of the STA 1206 moving out of a coverage area associated withthe AP 1204 a and into a coverage area associated with the AP 1204 b.The fast initial link setup 1307 may include an authentication frame1305 transmitted from the STA 1206 to the AP 1204 b and anauthentication request 1310 transmitted from the AP 1204 b to theauthentication server 1308. The authentication frame 1305, theauthentication request 1310, and/or one or more other messages of thecommunication exchange 1300 may comply with a remote authentication dialin user service (RADIUS) protocol and/or a Diameter authentication,authorization, and accounting protocol.

Upon receiving the authentication request 1310, the authenticationserver 1308 may determine that the STA 1206 is using the samekeyName-NAI as in the previous authentication. The authentication server1308 may transmit an EAP-Finish/Re-Auth message 1315 to the AP 1204 b.The EAP-Finish/Re-Auth message 1315 may include a “same network” flag.The same network flag may indicate that the AP 1204 b can provide IPcommunication without re-configuring DHCP information. The same networkflag may correspond to the indication 1209. Upon receiving theEAP-Finish/Re-Auth message 1315, the AP 1204 b may transmit anauthentication frame 1320 to the station. The authentication frame 1320also includes the same network flag.

Upon receiving the authentication frame 1320 with the same network flagindicated, the STA 1206 may detect the same network flag and may checkone or more parameters to determine whether another IP address (IPAddr2)is to be requested irrespective of the same network flag. For example,the STA 1206 may check an expiry of a “lease” associated with IPAddr1 todetermine whether IPAddr2 should be requested (e.g., if the leaseassociated with IPAddr1 will expire within a threshold time duration).If the STA 1206 determines to continue using IPAddr1, the STA 1206transmits an association request 1325 to the AP 1204 b. However, unlikecertain conventional techniques, the association request does notinclude an indication that a DHCP request should be performed for theSTA 1206 by the AP 1204 b. The AP 1204 b then transmits an associationresponse 1330 to the STA 1206.

After receiving the association response 1330, the STA 1206 initiates IPcommunication using the IP address it previously used during the initiallink setup 1301. This is shown by transmission of IP packet 1335 by theSTA 1206 using IPAddr1, which the STA 1206 may receive during theinitial link setup 1301. The IP packet 1335 includes a source field(src) indicating IPAddr1.

FIG. 13 further illustrates that the AP 1204 a may receive the IP packet1335 and may forward the IP packet 1335 to a destination deviceindicated by a destination address included in a destination field ofthe IP packet 1335. The AP 1204 a may perform one or more otheroperations, such as mapping IPAddr1 to a medium access control (MAC)address associated with the STA 1206. One or more other nodes (e.g.,servers, routers, hubs, etc.) on a path from the STA 1206 to thedestination device may note the path (e.g., by caching addresses) toenable IP communications between the STA 1206 and the destinationdevice.

The example of FIG. 13 illustrates that the STA 1206 can reuse IPAddr1based on the same network flag received in the authentication frame1320. The same network flag indicates that the AP 1204 b utilizes thesame IP network or IP subnetwork for communication as the STA 1206 usedfor a previous authentication (e.g., with AP 1204 a). By reusing the IPaddress originally obtained during the initial link setup 1301, the needto perform a DHCP request during the fast initial link setup 1307 may beeliminated, thus reducing latency associated with association with theAP 1204 b. This reduces the overall elapsed time for the STA 1206 toestablish IP communications via AP 1204 b.

The example of FIG. 13 illustrates that an authentication server (e.g.,the authentication server 1308) may perform operations to reduce latencyin link setup. Alternatively or in addition, an ER server may reducelatency in link setup, as described further with reference to FIG. 14.

FIG. 14 shows another exemplary communication exchange 1400 in thewireless communication system 1200 of FIG. 12. Communication is shownbetween an STA 1206, APs 1204 a, 1204 b, and 1204 c, the DHCP server1309, and the authentication server 1308. FIG. 14 also illustratescommunication with a local Extensible Authentication Protocolre-authentication (ER) server 1408.

The communication exchange 1400 depicts an initial link setup 1401between the STA 1206 and the AP 1204 a. The initial link setup 1401 mayinclude EAP communications 1402, 1403 and a DHCP communication 1404. TheDHCP communication 1404 may include requesting and obtaining DHCPinformation, such as an IP address (IPAddr1).

The communication exchange 1400 further depicts a fast initial linksetup 1407 between the STA 1206 and the AP 1204 b, such as in responseto a user of the STA 1206 moving out of a coverage area associated withthe AP 1204 a and into a coverage area associated with the AP 1204 b.The fast initial link setup 1407 may include an authentication frame1405 transmitted from the STA 1206 to the AP 1204 b, and anauthentication request 1410 transmitted from the AP 1204 b to the localER server 1408. An authentication request 1415 is then transmitted fromthe local ER server 1408 to the authentication server 1308. Theauthentication frame 1405, the authentication requests 1410 and 1415,and/or one or more other messages of the communication exchange 1400 maycomply with a remote authentication dial in user service (RADIUS)protocol and/or a Diameter authentication, authorization, and accountingprotocol. One or more messages of the communication exchange 1400 mayindicate a domain name associated with IP communications.

Upon receiving the authentication request 1415, the authenticationserver 1308 transmits an authentication response message 1420 to thelocal ER server 1408. In the example of FIG. 14, the local ER server1408 records an association between the IP network used by the AP 1204 bto communicate with the local ER server 1408 and the keyName-NAI of theSTA 1206 (e.g., based on the authentication response message 1420). Thelocal ER server 1408 may perform one or more Extensible AuthenticationProtocol Re-authentication Protocol (EAP-RP) procedures, such as using adomain-specific root key (DSRK). The local ER server 1408 then transmitsan authentication response message 1425 to the AP 1204 b.

Upon receiving the authentication response message 1425, the AP 1204 btransmits an authentication frame 1430 to the STA 1206. Theauthentication frame 430 indicates that authentication is complete. Thefast initial link setup 1407 may further include DHCP reconfigurationoperations 1440, 1445 in order to obtain a second IP address (IPAddr2).In this example, the DHCP server 1309 assigns IPAddr2 to the STA 1206.The STA 1206 then uses IPAddr2 for IP communication (e.g., to downloadcontent or to send an email, as illustrative examples).

The communication exchange 1400 further depicts a fast initial linksetup 1409 between the STA 1206 and the AP 1204 c, such as in responseto a user of the STA 1206 moving out of a coverage area associated withthe AP 1204 b and into a coverage area associated with the AP 1204 c.The fast initial link setup 1409 may include transmitting anauthentication frame 1450 to the AP 1204 c by the STA 1206. In responseto the authentication frame 1450, the AP 1204 c transmits anauthentication message 1455 to the local ER server 1408.

Upon receiving the authentication message 1455, the local ER server 1408determines that the STA 1206 is still in the same network as during thefast initial link setup 1407 (e.g., based on a determination that theSTA 1206 is using the keyName-NAI). The local ER server 1408 may performone or more EAP-RP procedures, such as using a DSRK.

The local ER sever 1408 may transmit an authentication response message1460. In some aspects, the authentication response message 1460 may bean EAP-Finish/Re-Auth message. The authentication response message 1460includes an indication that the keyName-NAI is still in the same networkas during a previous authentication (e.g., a “same network” flag). Thesame network flag may correspond to the indication 1209. Upon receivingthe authentication response message 1460, the AP 1204 c transmits anauthentication frame 1465 to the STA 1206. Because the authenticationresponse message 1460 includes the same network flag, the authenticationframe 1465 also includes the same network flag.

The STA 1206 may receive the authentication frame 1465. The STA 1206 maydetect the same network flag and may check one or more parameters todetermine whether another IP address (IPAddr3) is to be requestedirrespective of the same network flag. For example, the STA 1206 maycheck an expiry of a “lease” associated with IPAddr2 to determinewhether IPAddr3 should be requested (e.g., if the lease associated withIPAddr2 will expire within a threshold time duration). If the STA 1206determines to continue using IPAddr2, the STA 1206 transmits anassociation request 1470 to the AP 1204 c.

In the example of FIG. 14, the association request 1470 does not includean indication of a DHCP request, since the STA 1206 is to reuse theIPAddr2 used for IP communications via AP 1204 c, based at least in parton the same network flag received in the authentication frame 1465. Theexample of FIG. 14 shows that no DHCP is performed by the AP 1204 c inresponse to receiving the association request. The AP 1204 c thentransmits an association response 1475 back to the STA 1206.

Because no DHCP messages are received or transmitted by the AP 1204 cduring association with the STA 1206, the latency between theassociation request message 1470 and the association response message1475 is reduced. For example, the latency is reduced as compared to asystem that provides DHCP information to a mobile device in response toeach association process initiated by the mobile device.

Referring to FIG. 15, a particular illustrative embodiment of a methodof operating a mobile device is depicted and generally designated 1500.The method 1500 may be performed by any of the STAs 1206 of FIG. 12.

The method 1500 includes initiating a link setup procedure, at 1504. Thelink setup procedure may correspond to a FILS procedure, as anillustrative example. The link setup procedure includes receiving DHCPinformation via the first access point. The DHCP information may bereceived from a DHCP server, such as the DHCP server 1210 a of FIG. 12.

The DHCP information may include an IP address associated with themobile device. The IP address corresponds to an IP network. In someaspects, a network portion of the IP address may identify the IPnetwork. In some aspects, the IP network may be an IP subnet orsub-network. If the IP address corresponds to an IP subnet, the IPsubnet may be part of a single physical subnet or it may be distributedover multiple physical subnets. In some aspects, the IP address isreceived in an authentication frame, for example, in an associationresponse and/or an association response.

The method 1500 further includes communicating with the first accesspoint using the DHCP information, at 1506. The first access point maycorrespond to the AP 1204 a of FIG. 12. Communicating with the firstaccess point using the DHCP information may include receiving data thatis addressed to the mobile device via the IP address. As a particularnon-limiting example, the mobile device may receive data (e.g., videos,images, email, etc.) from a server via the first access point based onthe IP address. Alternatively or in addition, communicating with thefirst access point may include sending data to a destination (e.g., aserver) via the first access point using the IP address.

In some aspects, the IP address may be used as a source IP address whencommunicating with the first access point. In some aspects,communicating with the first access point does not include exchange ofIP level communications with the first access point. Instead, in someaspects, the IP communications may be encapsulated within some otherprotocol packet. The first access point may then de-encapsulate the IPpackets and transmit them over the IP network on behalf of the mobiledevice, as an illustrative example.

The method 1500 may further include initiating communication with asecond access point after communicating with the first access point, at1512. The second access point may correspond to the AP 1204 b of FIG.12. The mobile device may initiate communication with the second accesspoint in response to moving out of range of the first access point andinto range of the second access point. For example, the mobile devicemay detect one or more communications from the second access point inresponse to moving to a location within range of the second accesspoint, such as within a range of receiving a “beacon” or other signal,which may comply with a communication standard, such as an Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 communicationstandard.

In response to detecting the beacon or other signal, the mobile devicemay initiate an authentication procedure with the second access point,as an illustrative example. In some aspects, the authenticationprocedure may include transmitting an EAP-Init/Re-auth message. TheEAP-Init/Re-Auth message may indicate a keyName-NAI identifying themobile device and/or a network used by the mobile device.

The method 1500 may further include receiving an indication (e.g., asame network flag) from the second access point identifying whether themobile device is able to communicate with the second access point usingthe DHCP information, at 1516. The indication may correspond to theindication 1209. A value of the indication identifies whether the mobiledevice is able to reduce link setup time with the second access point byavoiding DHCP reconfiguration with the second access point. Toillustrate, the indication may specify that the first access point andthe second access point are included in a common network, such as acommon network that includes a common DHCP server, where the firstaccess point and the second access point are in communication with(e.g., managed by) the common DHCP server. In this case, the indicationmay have a first value, such as a “0” value, as an illustrative example.Alternatively, the indication may specify that the first access pointand the second access point are managed by different DHCP servers. Inthis example, the indication may have a second value, such as a “1”value, as an illustrative example.

The indication may identify whether the second access point can provideIP communication for the mobile device over an IP network previouslyused by the mobile device. In some aspects, the IP network is an IPsub-network. In some aspects, the IP address used with the first accesspoint indicates an IP network previously used by the mobile device. Insome aspects, the indication is received in an extensible authenticationprotocol (EAP) message. In some aspects, the indication is received aspart of an EAP-Finish/Re-Auth message. The indication may be provided bya type/value attribute, such as an Extensible Authentication ProtocolRe-authentication Protocol (EAP-RP) attribute. For example, the presenceor absence of an EAP-RP attribute may provide the indication. In someother aspects, a different EAP message may provide the indication.

The method 1500 may further include determining, based on theindication, whether to use the DHCP information to communicate with thesecond access point, at 1520. As an illustrative example, a first valueof the indication may specify that the mobile device may use the DHCPinformation in communications with the second access point, and a secondvalue of the indication may specify that the mobile device is to obtainsecond DHCP information for communications with the second access point.

If the mobile device is to use the DHCP information, the method 1500 mayfurther include communicating with the second access point using theDHCP information, where the first access point and the second accesspoint are in communication with a common DHCP server, at 1524. Thecommon DHCP server may correspond to the DHCP server 1210 a of FIG. 12,as an illustrative example.

If the mobile device is to obtain DHCP information from a second DHCPserver for communications with the second access point, the method 1500may further include requesting the DHCP information from the second DHCPserver, at 1528. The second DHCP server may correspond to the DHCPserver 1210 b of FIG. 12, as an illustrative example. In certainimplementations, instead of the mobile device sending a DHCP requestmessage, the mobile device may send a message, such as a message withinan association request, to the second access point. The message mayrequest the second access point to initiate a DHCP request on behalf ofthe mobile device. In some other aspects, the mobile device may exchangemessages directly with a DHCP server. In this case, the mobile devicemay determine whether to transmit a DHCP request message to the DHCPserver based on the indication.

The method 1500 may further include communicating with the second accesspoint using the second DHCP information, at 1532. For example, thesecond DHCP information may include a second IP address, and data may besent to and/or received from a server via the second access point usingthe second IP address.

The method 1500 of FIG. 15 enables fast link setup operations. Forexample, the method 1500 may avoid DHCP reconfiguration when a currentor “existing” DHCP credential (e.g., an IP address) may suffice. Byreducing or eliminating communications with a DHCP server in this case,link setup time is reduced.

The method 1500 may optionally include determining whether to perform IPcommunication with the second access point using the IP address basedfurther on one or more parameters. For example, the mobile device maydetermine the time remaining before the lease of the IP address expires.If the time remaining fails to satisfy a threshold, or if the lease ofthe IP address has already expired, then the station may determine notto reuse the IP address for IP communications via the second accesspoint (even if the indication identifies that the IP address can bereused by the mobile device in communications with the second accesspoint).

The method 1500 may optionally include storing an association betweenthe IP address and the first access point. The mobile device may accessthe association to identify the IP address upon receiving the indicationvia the second access point. For example, in some aspects, uponreceiving the indication, the mobile device may determine a most recentaccess point via which the mobile device performed IP communications(i.e., the first access point in the illustrative example of FIG. 15).After accessing the association, the mobile device may then determinethe IP address that can be used for communications with the secondaccess point.

In some aspects, the method 1500 may optionally include receiving amessage from the first access point indicating a first domain name. Forexample, the mobile device may receive an EAP-Finish/Re-Auth packetindicating the domain name. In some aspects, the domain name may be adomain name of a local ER server (e.g., the local ER server 1408 of FIG.14) used to perform an authentication on behalf of the first accesspoint. These aspects may further include storing an association betweenthe IP address, the first access point, and the first domain name. Inthese aspects, the method 1500 may further include receiving a seconddomain name from the second access point. The second domain name mayalso be received in an EAP-Finish/Re-Auth packet. The second domain namemay identify a local ER server used to perform an authentication onbehalf of the second access point.

In this example, after receiving the second domain name, the mobiledevice may search a list of associations, including the associationbetween the IP address, the first access point, and the first domainname. Searching the list may include comparing the second domain name todomain names stored in the list of associations. If the mobile deviceidentifies two domain names that are equal, the mobile device may havean indication that the IP address associated with the domain name equalto the second domain name can be used for IP communications via thesecond access point. In some cases, this may be the first IP address.

In some aspects, the mobile device may receive an indication of anauthentication server (e.g., the authentication server 1308) used toauthenticate the mobile device for communications with an access point.The indication of an authentication server may be a host name or IPaddress of the authentication server in some aspects. For example, thisindication may be received in the authentication frame 1320 or 1430. Themobile device may receive multiple indications of multipleauthentication servers. For example, the first, second, and third accesspoints may communicate with first, second, and third authenticationservers, respectively. Indications of these authentication servers maybe received by the mobile device. The mobile device may use theindications to determine whether to utilize a particular IP address whencommunicating with a particular access point.

For example, the IP address may first be obtained by the mobile devicefrom the first access point, and authentication with the first accesspoint may indicate a first authentication server. In a subsequentauthentication with a second access point, the mobile device may receivean indication of a second authentication server, different than thefirst authentication server. Because the authentication server for thesecond access point is different than the authentication server for thefirst access point, the mobile device may obtain a new IP address duringassociation with the second access point instead of reusing the IPaddress obtained for communication with the first access point. Themobile device may obtain a new IP address even if authentication withthe second access point includes an indication that the second accesspoint can provide IP communication using an IP network is provided bythe second access point.

Certain devices described with reference to the method 1500 may maintaina list of associations between IP addresses, authentication servers, andalso local ER servers. One example list is shown in Table 1:

TABLE 1 IP Lease Authentication Local ER IP Address valid Until ServerServer Access Point IP1 Time 1 A1 ER1 AP1 IP2 Time 2 A2 ER2 AP2 IP3 Time3 A3 None AP3

In these implementations, a device may receive an indication of anauthentication server and possibly a local ER server during anauthentication with an access point. When the device receives anindication that the second access point provides IP communications usingan IP network previously used by the station, the device may then searchits previous associations, as stored in the example of Table 1. Thesearch may identify an IP address that matches the combination ofauthentication servers and local ER servers indicated during theassociation with the second access point.

If no entry in the table is found matching the indicated authenticationand/or local ER server, the device may not reuse the IP address whenperforming IP communications with the second access point. Instead,during association with the second access point, the device may requestthat a new IP address be allocated for it. This may cause the secondaccess point to initiate a DHCP request/reply exchange. Note that thenew IP address may be requested even if the indication indicates that IPcommunication using the IP network can be provided by the second accesspoint. To further illustrate, consider the examples shown in Table 2.The examples assume that all of the IP addresses listed in Table 1 haveadequate lease time remaining such that they can be reused ifappropriate:

TABLE 2 Indication of Indication of Authenticating Value ofAuthentication local ER with Indication Server server Result AP 4 SameIP A1 ER1 Reuse IP1 Network AP 5 Same IP A5 ER2 Reuse IP2 Network AP 6Same IP A6 ER6 Request New Network IP address from AP6 AP 7 Same IP A3None Reuse IP3 Network AP 8 Same IP A3 ER8 Request New Network IPAddress from AP8

To illustrate using the examples of Table 2, in the first example, adevice performing the method 1500 may authenticate with AP 4. As part ofthe authentication process with AP4, the device receives an indicationthat the authentication server is A1 and the local ER server is ER1. Thedevice also receives an indication that IP communication using apreviously used IP network is provided by the second access point. Thedevice can search a table, such as a table corresponding to Table 1, toidentify an entry matching authentication server=A1 and local ERserver=ER 1, which shows an IP address of “IP1.” If the lease for IP1 isnot already expired and will not expire soon, the device may reuse IP1for IP communications via AP4.

In the example above for AP5, the device searches the table for anauthentications server=A5 and local ER server=ER2, and finds an entryproviding IP2. Because the same IP network flag is set, IP2 can bereused for IP communications via AP5.

In the example above for AP6, the device searches Table 1 forauthentication server=A6 and local ER server=ER6. No entry is found.Therefore, despite the indication identifying the same IP network, thedevice requests a new IP address from AP6 before performing IPcommunications via AP6.

In the example above for AP7, the device searches Table 1 for an entrywhere the authentication server is A3. Note that since no local ERserver indication is received when performing authorization with AP7,only the authentication server A3 is searched. As entry identifying IP3is found with an authentication server A3 in Table 1, and therefore IP3may be reused for IP communication with AP7, since the authenticationwith AP7 included an indication that IP communication using the IPnetwork is provided by the seventh access point (AP7).

In the example above for AP8, the device searches Table 1 for an entrywith an authentication server of A3 and a local ER server of ER8. Noneis found, so the device requests a new IP address to use when performingIP communication via AP8. The above are only examples of how a devicemay utilize associations between access points, authentication servers,and/or local ER servers, and/or IP addresses, in combination with anindication received as part of an authentication process with an accesspoint to potentially reuse an IP address previously used forcommunication via another access point. By reusing IP addresses whenpossible, a device may reduce the latency associated with establishingIP communication via an access point.

In certain cases, a mobile device (or STA) may not receive a responsethat is transmitted by a server or access point. For example, tocomplete an authentication procedure, an authentication server or localER server may transmit an EAP-Finish or an EAP-Finish/Re-Auth message tothe STA, such as via the AP2. However, in some cases, the STA may notreceive this message. This can occur for a variety of reasons, forexample:

-   -   I. The AS/local ER Server never received the EAP or EAP-RP        Packet from the STA because of network communication issues.    -   II. The AS/local ER Server received the EAP or EAP-RP Packet,        but authentication failed or the AS/local ER Server decided not        to authorize the STA for AP2, so authentication is considered        unsuccessful. However, the STA did not receive the EAP-Finish or        EAP-Finish/Re-auth Packet from the AS/local ER Server because of        communication issues. The communications issues may be between        the AS/local ER Server and the AP or between the AP and STA).    -   III. The AS/local Server received the EAP or EAP-RP Packet, and        decided to authorize the STA to use AP2. This authentication is        considered successful. However, the STA did not receive the        EAP-Finish or EAP-Finish/Re-auth Packet from the AS/local ER        Server because of communication issues

In the examples above, the STA is generally not able to determine whichof the example situations occurred (I, II or III). The STA then attemptsa second authentication to connect to an AP3 using EAP-RP, noting thatAP3 could be in Network 1, Network 2 or yet another Network (Network 3).

The correct behavior of the STA is as follows:

-   -   a. If AP3 is in Network 1 then the STA can re-uses the        DHCP-configured information, reducing the need for an additional        DHCP operation when associating with AP3. While the station        could request a new IP address when associating with AP3, this        will result in additional latency during the association, which        is disfavored if it can be avoided safety.    -   b. If AP3 is in Network 2 or Network 3, then the STA cannot        reuse the DHCP configured information for Network 1. Therefore,        the STA should request a new IP address from AP3.

Next, we consider a repeated authentication attempt under the followingthree conditions. First, the AS/local Server is unaware of the firstauthentication attempt. At the second authentication attempt, theAS/local Server will note that the STA was in Network 1 at the mostrecent successful authentication. We examine the cases based on thenetwork containing AP3:

-   -   a. AP3 is in Network 1: the AS/local ER Server returns a same        network flag. If the STA uses this flag, then this results in        preferred behavior of the STA.    -   b. AP3 is in Network 2: the AS/local ER Server does not return a        same network flag. If the STA uses this flag, then this results        in preferred behavior of the STA.    -   c. AP3 is in Network 3: the AS/local ER Server does not return a        same network flag. If the STA uses this flag, then this results        in preferred behavior of the STA.

Second, the AS/local Server is aware of the first authenticationattempt, and considers that authentication attempt to be unsuccessful.At the second authentication attempt, the AS/local Server will note thatthe STA was in Network 1 at the most recent successful authentication.We examine the cases based on the network containing AP3:

-   -   a. AP3 is in Network 1: the AS/local ER Server returns a same        network flag. If the STA uses this flag, then this results in        acceptable (but not preferred) behavior of the STA.    -   b. AP3 is in Network 2: the AS/local ER Server does not return a        same network flag. If the STA uses this flag, then this results        in preferred behavior of the STA.    -   c. AP3 is in Network 3: the AS/local ER Server does not return a        same network flag. If the STA uses this flag, then this results        in preferred behavior of the STA.

Third, the AS/local Server is aware of the first authentication attempt,and considers that authentication attempt to be successful. At thesecond authentication attempt, the AS/local Server will note that theSTA was in Network 2 at the most recent successful authentication. Weexamine the cases based on the network containing AP3:

-   -   a. AP3 is in Network 1: the AS/local ER Server does not return a        same network flag. If the STA uses this flag, then this results        in acceptable (but not preferred) behavior of the STA.    -   b. AP3 is in Network 2: the AS/local ER Server returns a same        network flag. If the STA uses this flag, then this results in        unacceptable behavior of the STA.    -   c. AP3 is in Network 3: the AS/local ER Server does not return a        same network flag. If the STA uses this flag, then this results        in preferred behavior of the STA.

If the STA treats the replies as correct, then the first case results inthe preferred behavior, the second scenario always results in at leastacceptable behavior (although not always preferred), and third case canresult in unacceptable behavior.

Since the STA does not know which of the situations described aboveoccurred, and some result in unacceptable reuse of an IP address by theSTA, the STA may ignore a same network indication from an AS/local ERServer (via an access point) if it did not receive the EAP-Finish orEAP-Finish/Re-auth at the end of the STA's most recent EAP or EAP-RPauthentication with that AS/local ER Server.

To further illustrate, referring again to FIG. 15, the method 1500 mayoptionally include communicating with one more additional access points.For example, if an authentication response is not received from thesecond access point (e.g., during link setup with the second accesspoint), the STA 1206 a may initiate communication with a third accesspoint, which may correspond to the AP 1204 c of FIG. 14.

Communicating with the third access point may include transmitting anEAP-Init/Re-auth message. The EAP-Init/Re-Auth message may indicate akeyName-NAI identifying the mobile device and/or a network used by themobile device. An indication (e.g., the indication 1209) may be receivedfrom the third access point by the mobile device. The indication mayspecify whether the third access point can provide IP communication overan IP network or IP sub-network previously used by the mobile device. Insome aspects, the indication is received in an EAP message. In someaspects, the indication is received as part of an EAP-Finish/Re-Authmessage. The indication may be provided by a type/value attribute, suchas an EAP-RP attribute. For example, the presence or absence of anEAP-RP attribute may provide the indication. In some other aspects, adifferent EAP message may provide the indication.

The method 1500 may optionally include requesting a second IP addressfor IP communication with the third access point based on whether anauthentication response was received from the second access point andfurther based on the indication. For example, if the indicationspecifies that IP communication with the third access point is to beperformed over the IP network (or sub-network), then the mobile devicemay avoid requesting a new IP address (for use with the third accesspoint) if a response to the authentication request with the secondaccess point has been received. However, if no response was received tothe authentication request from the second access point, a new IPaddress may be requested by the mobile device (regardless of theindication). This may prevent inappropriate reuse of an IP address dueto a mismatched state between the mobile device and an access point.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a method 1600 for reducing for reducinglatency when establishing IP communication over a communicationsnetwork. In some aspects, the communications network is the wirelesscommunication system 1200 of FIG. 12. In an embodiment, the method 1600may be performed by an access point, such as any of the APs 1204 a-c. Insome aspects, the method 1600 may be performed by an access point toenable a station to reuse an IP address for IP communications with theaccess point that had previously been allocated and used for IPcommunication with a different access point. The method 1600 mayfacilitate reduced latency associated with establishing an associationwith the station, enabling the station to establish IP communicationthrough the access point more efficiently and quickly as compared to aconventional technique.

An authentication request is received by a first device for a seconddevice (e.g., is received directly from the second device, or isreceived indirectly from the second device, such as from an“intermediary device” on behalf of the second device), at 1605. In someaspects, the first device is an access point (e.g., any of the APs 1204a-c) and the second device is a station (e.g., any of the STAs 1206a-d). In some aspects, the second device is a relay. In some aspects,the authentication request is received from the second device directly,for example, when the method 1600 is performed by an access point.

In some aspects, an authentication request may be transmitted to a thirddevice in response to receiving the authentication request for thesecond device. In some aspects, the third device is an EAP server or alocal ER server. For example, an access point performing the method 1600may receive an authentication request from a station, and may generatean authentication request to an authorization server and/or a local ERserver in response to receiving the request from the station. In someaspects, the method 1600 may further include receiving an authenticationresponse from the authorization server or the local ER server. Theresponse may include an indication of whether the device can provideInternet Protocol communication over an IP network previously used bythe second device. This indication may then be “passed through” thedevice performing the method 1600.

An indication is transmitted to the second device specifying whether thefirst device can provide IP communication over an IP network previouslyused by the second device, at 1610. In some aspects, the indicationidentifies whether the first device can provide IP communication over anIP sub-network previously used by the second device. In some aspects,the indication is received by the second device in an EAP-Finish/Re-Authpacket sent by the first device. In some aspects, an indication of anauthentication server used to perform the authentication may also betransmitted by the first device to the second device. In some aspects,an indication of a local ER server may be transmitted by the firstdevice to the second device.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of a method 1700 for reducing latency whenestablishing IP communication over a communications network. In someaspects, the communications network is the wireless communication system1200 of FIG. 12. In various implementations, the method 1700 may beperformed by a server (e.g., the server 1212), by an authenticationserver (e.g., the authentication server 1308), and/or by an EAP server,such as a local ER server (e.g., the local ER server 1408). In someaspects, the method 1700 may enable a station to reuse an IP addressthat had previously been allocated and used for IP communication with adifferent access point. The method 1700 may facilitate reduced latencyof an association procedure between the station and the access point,enabling the station to establish IP communication through the accesspoint more efficiently and quickly as compared to a conventionaltechnique.

The method 1700 may include receiving an authentication request by aserver, at 1705. In some aspects, the server is an authenticationserver. In some aspects the server is a local ER server. In someaspects, the server is an EAP server. The authentication request is fora first device (e.g., a mobile device, such as any of the STAs 1206a-d). The authentication request is associated with communicationbetween the first device and a second device (e.g., an access point,such as any of the APs 1204 a-c). In some aspects, the authenticationrequest is based on a second authentication request received by thesecond device from the first device. For example, a server (such as theauthentication server 1308 or the local ER server 1408) may receive anauthentication request from an access point (either directly orindirectly, such as via one or more of a gateway, firewall, router, orother network device).

In some aspects, the authentication request may be an EAPauthentication, such as an EAP-Init/Re-Auth message. The authenticationrequest may include a keyName-NAI corresponding to or identifying thefirst device. The access point generating the authentication request mayreceive a corresponding authentication request from the first device,which may correspond to any of the authentication frames 1305, 1405.

The method 1700 may further include determining an IP network utilizedby the second device for IP communication, at 1710. For example, anauthentication server may determine an IP network used by the accesspoint generating the authentication request, such as by identifying asource IP address included in the authentication request received at1705. Alternatively, the access point may indicate the IP network of theaccess point explicitly in an EAP or other message to the server.Alternatively, the server may have access to a network configurationdatabase that enables it to determine the IP network used by the accesspoint for IP communication.

The method 1700 may further include determining a previous IP networkutilized by the first device, at 1715. In some aspects, the server maystore an association between devices requesting authentication and an IPnetwork used by the devices for IP communication. As authenticationrequests from devices are received, a database of associations isaccumulated. In some aspects, the database may correspond to the exampleshown in Table 3:

TABLE 3 Keyname-NAI IP Network KEY1 IP1 KEY2 IP2 KEY3 IP3

In some aspects, entries in a database corresponding to the example ofTable 3 may be “aged out” (e.g., evicted) based on one or moretechniques known in the art. When an authentication request for a deviceis received, the authentication request may include a keyName-NAI fieldidentifying the first device. In some aspects, the database examplerepresented by Table 3 may be searched to determine whether previousauthentications for the device have been performed, and if so, withwhich IP networks those authentications were associated with.

The method 1700 may further include transmitting an indication ofwhether the IP network utilized by the second device is equivalent tothe previous IP network utilized by the first device, at 1720. In someaspects, the indication is transmitted as part of an EAP-Init/Re-Authmessage.

In some aspects, no previous IP network for the first device may beidentified. For example, in the example of Table 3 above, there may beno entry for a keyName-NAI included in the authentication message. Inthis case, the transmitted indication may indicate that the IP networkutilized by the second device is not equivalent to “the previous IPnetwork” (even if there is no previous IP network) utilized by the firstdevice. Alternatively, a search of a database may identify an entry forthe keyName-NAI included in the authentication request, but the IPnetwork indication associated with that keyName-NAI may be differentthan the IP network determined at 1710. In this case, the transmittedindication may also indicate the IP network utilized by the seconddevice is not equivalent to the previous IP network utilized by thefirst device.

In some aspects, both of the above examples may result in transmissionof a message including no explicit indication relating to the previousIP network of the first device. For example, in some implementations, ifthe previous IP network of the first device is not equivalent to the IPnetwork utilized by device, no explicit indication is transmitted, at1720. In these implementations, an explicit indication is onlytransmitted when the previous IP network of the first device isequivalent to the IP network utilized by the second device. For example,some implementations add an EAP-RP attribute to an EAP-Finish messagewhen the previous IP network is equivalent to the IP network utilized bythe second device.

Other implementations may use different EAP-RP attributes to indicateeach condition. Some other implementations may use an EAP-RP attributethat can have a variety of different values to indicate the variousconditions described above.

Referring to FIG. 18, a particular illustrative embodiment of a mobiledevice is depicted and generally designated 1800. The mobile device 1800may correspond to one or more of the STAs 1206 a-d of FIG. 12.

The mobile device 1800 includes a processor 1810. The processor 1810 maybe coupled to a memory 1856. The processor 1810 may execute instructions1852 use data 1854. The processor 1810 may include one or more processorunits configured to control operation of the mobile device 1800. One ormore of the processor units can be collectively referred to as a centralprocessing unit (CPU). The processor 1810 can be implemented with anycombination of general-purpose microprocessors, microcontrollers,digital signal processors (DSPs), field programmable gate array (FPGAs),programmable logic devices (PLDs), controllers, state machines, gatedlogic, discrete hardware components, dedicated hardware finite statemachines, or any other suitable entities that can perform calculationsor other manipulations of information. In an implementation where theprocessor 1810 includes a DSP, the DSP can be configured to generate apacket (e.g., a data packet) for transmission. In some aspects, thepacket can include a physical layer data unit (PPDU).

The mobile device 1800 can also include a memory 1856. The memory 1856may include a read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), or acombination thereof. A portion of the memory 1856 can also includenon-volatile random access memory (NVRAM). The processor 1810 can beconfigured to perform logical and arithmetic operations based on programinstructions stored within the memory 1856. The processor 1810 can beconfigured to implement one or more methods described herein, forexample in conjunction with executable instructions accessed from thememory 1856.

FIG. 18 also shows a display controller 1826 that is coupled to theprocessor 1810 and to a display 1828. A coder/decoder (CODEC) 1834 canalso be coupled to the processor 1810. A speaker 1836 and a microphone1838 can be coupled to the CODEC 1834. The mobile device 1800 mayfurther include an input device 1830 and a power supply 1844. The mobiledevice 1800 may include a housing 1822 that includes one or morecomponents of the mobile device 1800. One or more components of themobile device 1800 can be coupled together by one or more buses (or abus system), which may include a representative bus 1898. The bus systemcan include a data bus, a power bus, a control signal bus, and/or astatus signal bus, as illustrative examples. Those of skill in the artwill appreciate the components of the mobile device 1800 can be coupledtogether or accept or provide inputs to each other using one or moreother structures.

FIG. 18 further indicates that a wireless controller 1840 can be coupledto the processor 1810. The wireless controller 1840 may be furthercoupled to an antenna 1842 via a radio frequency (RF) interface 1846(e.g., a transceiver). The RF interface 1846 may include a transmitter(Tx) 1862 and a receiver (Rx) 1864. The mobile device 1800 can alsoinclude multiple transmitters, multiple receivers, multipletransceivers, and/or multiple antennas (not shown in FIG. 18).

In a particular embodiment, the processor 1810 includes a signaldetector 1899. The signal detector 1899 can be used to detect signalsreceived by the RF interface 1846. The signal detector 1899 may detector measure one or more signal parameters such as total energy, energyper subcarrier per symbol, power spectral density, and/or one or moreother parameters.

In operation, the mobile device 1800 may communicate with a first accesspoint, such as the AP 1204 a. For example, the mobile device 1800 mayrequest and/or receive network configuration information, such as DHCPinformation 1858. The mobile device 1800 may receive the DHCPinformation 1858 from a DHCP server, such as the DHCP server 1210 a. TheDHCP information 1858 may indicate an IP address associated with themobile device 1800. The mobile device may use the IP address forInternet communications, such as to send data to and to receive datafrom one or more servers. The IP address may be valid for a particulartime duration (e.g., the IP address may be associated with a “lease”that is valid for the time duration). At the end of the time duration,the mobile device 1800 may request another IP address (e.g., by sendinga request to the DHCP server 1210 a via the AP 1204 a).

After communicating with the first access point, the mobile device 1800may initiate communication with a second access point. For example, if auser of the mobile device 1800 moves out of a service area associatedwith the first access point, the mobile device 1800 may initiatecommunication (e.g., may perform link setup) with the second accesspoint. During link setup, the mobile device 1800 may receive theindication 1209. The indication 1209 may be received from the secondaccess point and may indicate whether the mobile device 1800 maycommunicate with the second access point using current DHCP information(e.g., the DHCP information 1858 stored at the memory 1856). Toillustrate, the indication 1209 may have a first value if the firstaccess point and the second access point are managed by a common DHCPserver (e.g., the DHCP server 1210 a). In this case, the mobile devicemay use the DHCP information 1858 for communications with the secondserver and may avoid a DHCP reconfiguration process. A second value ofthe indication 1209 may indicate that the second access point is managedby a different DHCP server than the first access point (e.g., by theDHCP server 1210 b) and that the mobile device 1800 is to obtain secondDHCP information (e.g., a second IP address). In this case, the mobiledevice 1800 may send a request to the DHCP server 1210 b requesting thesecond DHCP information.

The indication 1209 of FIG. 18 enables fast link setup with the secondaccess point. For example, the indication 1209 may enable the mobiledevice 1800 to avoid automatic DHCP reconfiguration in response toinitiating communication with the second access point. Instead, themobile device 1800 may utilize the DHCP information 1858 based on theindication 1209.

Although certain structures and operations of FIG. 18 have beendescribed with reference to a mobile device (the mobile device 1800), itshould be appreciated that one or more structures and operations may beimplemented within or performed at another device. For example, one ormore structures or operations of FIG. 18 may be implemented within orperformed at an AP and/or at a server. An AP and/or a server may includeone or more processors corresponding to the processor 1810, as anillustrative example.

Depending on the particular implementation, a device described herein(e.g., a mobile device, an access point, and/or a server) may includeone or more circuits to perform certain operations described herein. Toillustrate, a device may include an IP reuse circuit, an IPcommunication circuit, an authentication circuit, a transmittingcircuit, a current IP network determination circuit, an IP networkequivalence circuit, a previous IP network determination circuit, or acombination thereof. Alternatively or in addition, a device may includea processing unit (e.g., a DSP, CPU, and/or other processing unit)configured to execute instructions to cause the device to performcertain operations described herein.

In connection with the described embodiments, an apparatus includes amemory (e.g., the memory 1856) and an RF interface (e.g., the RFinterface 1846). The memory is configured to store DHCP information(e.g., the DHCP information 1858). The RF interface is configured toinitiate a link setup procedure with a first access point (e.g., the AP1204 a). The link setup procedure includes receiving the DHCPinformation via the first access point. The RF interface is furtherconfigured to communicate with the first access point using the DHCPinformation. The RF interface is further configured to initiatecommunication with a second access point (e.g., the AP 1204 b) and toreceive an indication (e.g., the indication 1209) from the second accesspoint identifying whether to communicate with the second access pointusing the DHCP information. A value of the indication identifies whetherlink setup time with the second access point may be reduced by avoidingDHCP reconfiguration with the second access point.

In connection with the described embodiments, a computer-readable medium(e.g., the memory 1856) stores instructions executable by a processor(e.g., the processor 1810) of a mobile device (e.g., the mobile device1800) to cause the mobile device to perform operations that reduce linksetup time. The operations include initiating a link setup procedurewith a first access point (e.g., the AP 1204 a). The link setupprocedure includes receiving DHCP information (e.g., the DHCPinformation 1858) via the first access point. The operations furtherinclude communicating with the first access point using the DHCPinformation and initiating communication with a second access point(e.g., the AP 1204 b) after communicating with the first access point.The operations further include receiving an indication (e.g., theindication 1209) from the second access point identifying whether themobile device is able to communicate with the second access point usingthe DHCP information. A value of the indication identifies whether themobile device is able to reduce link setup time with the second accesspoint by avoiding DHCP reconfiguration with the second access point.

In connection with the described embodiments, an apparatus includesmeans for storing (e.g., the memory 1856) DHCP information (e.g., theDHCP information 1858). The apparatus further includes means forinitiating (e.g., the RF interface 1846) a link setup procedure with afirst access point. The link setup procedure includes receiving DHCPinformation (e.g., the DHCP information 1858) via the first accesspoint. The apparatus further includes means for communicating (e.g., theRF interface 1846) with the first access point using the DHCPinformation, means for initiating communication with a second accesspoint, and means for receiving an indication from the second accesspoint identifying whether to communicate with the second access pointusing the DHCP information. The indication may correspond to theindication 1209. The first access point may correspond to the AP 1204 a,and the second access point may correspond to the AP 1204 b. A value ofthe indication identifies whether link setup time with the second accesspoint may be reduced by avoiding DHCP reconfiguration with the secondaccess point.

Although the examples FIGS. 1-11 and FIGS. 12-18 are describedseparately for convenience of illustration, it should be appreciatedthat one or more structures and operations described with reference toFIGS. 1-11 may be implemented at one or more devices described withreference to FIGS. 12-18. For example, certain features of the system100 of FIG. 1 may correspond to one or more features of the wirelesscommunication system 1200 of FIG. 12. To further illustrate, certainaspects of the mobile device 102 may correspond to features of one ormore of the STAs 1206 a-1206 d. One or more features of the APs 104, 106may correspond to one or more features of the APs 1204 a-b. The AAAserver 108 may correspond to the server 1212, the authentication server1308, the local ER server 1408, or a combination thereof. The DHCPserver 110 may correspond to any of the DHCP servers 1210 a-b and 1309.One or more components of the device 1100 of FIG. 11 may correspond toone or more components of the device 1800 of FIG. 18. Moreover, certainembodiments in accordance with the present disclosure may includeaspects of multiple fast initial link setup methods described herein. Toillustrate, a particular mobile device may be capable of requestingreassignment of the same IP address during handoff, as described withreference to FIGS. 1-11, as well as automatically reusing previous DHCPinformation based on an indication that two APs are part of a commonnetwork, as described with reference to FIGS. 12-18.

It should be noted that although various embodiments have been describedherein as being associated with particular messaging protocols, theexamples of such protocols are for illustration only and are not to beconsidered limiting. In alternate embodiments, different messagingprotocols may be used and/or combined without departing from the scopeof the present disclosure. For example, an IP address may becommunicated between devices (e.g., two or more devices selected fromthe mobile device 102, the first AP 104, the second AP 106, the AAAserver 108, and the DHCP server 110) as part of (e.g., an attributewithin) an AAA message, an EAP message, and/or a remote authenticationdial in user service (RADIUS) message. Further, in selected embodiments,a first message corresponding to a first protocol may be encapsulated ina second message corresponding to a second protocol. To illustrate, anIP address may be included in an EAP message that is encapsulated in aRADIUS message.

One or more of the disclosed embodiments may be implemented in a systemor an apparatus that includes a mobile phone, a smart phone, a cellularphone, a computer, a tablet computer, a portable digital video player, aportable computer, a portable music player, a personal digital assistant(PDA), a mobile location data unit. Additionally, the system or theapparatus may include a mobile phone, a smart phone, a cellular phone, acomputer, a tablet computer, a communications device, a fixed locationdata unit, a set top box, an entertainment unit, a navigation device, amonitor, a computer monitor, a television, a tuner, a radio, a satelliteradio, a music player, a digital music player, a video player, a digitalvideo player, a digital video disc (DVD) player, a desktop computer, anyother device that stores or retrieves data or computer instructions, ora combination thereof. As another illustrative, non-limiting example,the system or the apparatus may include remote units, such as globalpositioning system (GPS) enabled devices, navigation devices, fixedlocation data units such as meter reading equipment, or any otherelectronic device. Although one or more of FIGS. 1-18 illustratesystems, apparatuses, and/or methods according to the teachings of thedisclosure, the disclosure is not limited to these illustrated systems,apparatuses, and/or methods. Embodiments of the disclosure may besuitably employed in any device that includes circuitry.

It should be understood that any reference to an element herein using adesignation such as “first,” “second,” and so forth does not generallylimit the quantity or order of those elements. Rather, thesedesignations may be used herein as a convenient method of distinguishingbetween two or more elements or instances of an element. Thus, areference to first and second elements does not mean that only twoelements may be employed or that the first element must precede thesecond element in some manner. Also, unless stated otherwise a set ofelements may comprise one or more elements.

As used herein, the term “determining” encompasses a wide variety ofactions. For example, “determining” may include calculating, computing,processing, deriving, investigating, looking up (e.g., looking up in atable, a database or another data structure), ascertaining and the like.Also, “determining” may include receiving (e.g., receiving information),accessing (e.g., accessing data in a memory) and the like. Also,“determining” may include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishingand the like.

As used herein, a phrase referring to “at least one of” a list of itemsrefers to any combination of those items, including single members. Asan example, “at least one of: a, b, or c” is intended to cover: a, b, c,a-b, a-c, b-c, and a-b-c.

Various illustrative components, blocks, configurations, modules,circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms oftheir functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented ashardware or processor executable instructions depends upon theparticular application and design constraints imposed on the overallsystem. Additionally, the various operations of methods described above(e.g., any operation illustrated in the FIGS. 1-18) may be performed byany suitable means capable of performing the operations, such as varioushardware and/or software component(s), circuits, and/or module(s).Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varyingways for each particular application, but such implementation decisionsshould not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of thepresent disclosure.

Those of skill in the art would further appreciate that the variousillustrative logical blocks, configurations, modules, circuits, andalgorithm steps described in connection with the present disclosure maybe implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a digitalsignal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit(ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logicdevice (PLD), discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardwarecomponents (e.g., electronic hardware), computer software executed by aprocessor, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functionsdescribed herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor,but in the alternative, the processor may be any commercially availableprocessor, controller, microcontroller or state machine. A processor mayalso be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., acombination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality ofmicroprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSPcore, or any other such configuration.

In one or more aspects, the functions described may be implemented inhardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implementedin software, the functions may be stored as one or more instructions orcode on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includescomputer-readable storage media and communication media including anymedium that facilitates transfer of computer program data from one placeto another. A storage media may be any available media that can beaccessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, suchcomputer-readable storage media can include random access memory (RAM),read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasablePROM (EPROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), register(s), harddisk, a removable disk, a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), otheroptical disk storage, magnetic disk storage, magnetic storage devices,or any other medium that can be used to store program code in the formof instructions or data and that can be accessed by a computer. In thealternative, the computer-readable media (e.g., a storage medium) may beintegral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium mayreside in an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The ASICmay reside in a computing device or a user terminal. In the alternative,the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete componentsin a computing device or user terminal.

Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. Forexample, if software is transmitted from a website, server, or otherremote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair,digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such asinfrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber opticcable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared,radio, and microwave are included in the definition of medium. Disk anddisc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, opticaldisc, digital versatile disc (DVD), and floppy disk where disks usuallyreproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically withlasers. Thus, in some aspects computer-readable medium may include anon-transitory computer-readable medium (e.g., tangible media).Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope ofcomputer-readable media.

The methods disclosed herein include one or more steps or actions. Themethod steps and/or actions may be interchanged with one another withoutdeparting from the scope of the claims. In other words, unless aspecific order of steps or actions is specified, the order and/or use ofspecific steps and/or actions may be modified without departing from thescope of the disclosure.

Certain aspects may include a computer program product for performingthe operations presented herein. For example, a computer program productmay include a computer-readable storage medium having instructionsstored (and/or encoded) thereon, the instructions being executable byone or more processors to perform the operations described herein. Thecomputer program product may include packaging material.

Further, it should be appreciated that modules and/or other appropriatemeans for performing the methods and techniques described herein can bedownloaded and/or otherwise obtained by a user terminal and/or basestation as applicable. Alternatively, various methods described hereincan be provided via storage means (e.g., RAM, ROM, or a physical storagemedium such as a compact disc (CD)). Moreover, any other suitabletechnique for providing the methods and techniques described herein canbe utilized. It is to be understood that the scope of the disclosure isnot limited to the precise configuration and components illustratedabove.

The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided toenable a person skilled in the art to make or use the disclosedembodiments. While the foregoing is directed to aspects of the presentdisclosure, other aspects of the disclosure may be devised withoutdeparting from the basic scope thereof, and the scope is determined bythe claims that follow. Various modifications, changes and variationsmay be made in the arrangement, operation, and details of theembodiments described herein without departing from the scope of thedisclosure or the claims. Thus, the present disclosure is not intendedto be limited to the embodiments herein but is to be accorded the widestscope possible consistent with the principles and novel features asdefined by the following claims and equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of operation of a mobile device toreduce link setup time, the method comprising: initiating a link setupprocedure with a first access point, wherein the link setup procedureincludes receiving dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP)information via the first access point; communicating with the firstaccess point using the DHCP information; after communicating with thefirst access point, initiating communication with a second access point;and prior to initiating DHCP reconfiguration with the second accesspoint, receiving an indication from the second access point identifyingwhether the mobile device is able to communicate with the second accesspoint using the DHCP information, wherein a value of the indicationidentifies whether the mobile device is able to reduce link setup timewith the second access point by avoiding the DHCP reconfiguration withthe second access point.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the DHCPinformation includes an Internet Protocol (IP) address, and wherein theindication includes a same network flag.
 3. The method of claim 2,wherein communicating with the first access point using the DHCPinformation includes receiving data via the first access point, the dataaddressed to the mobile device via the IP address.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein initiating communication with the second access pointincludes performing an initial link setup to establish connectivity withthe second access point.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein theindication identifies whether the first access point and the secondaccess point are included in a common network.
 6. The method of claim 5,wherein the common network includes a common DHCP server, and whereinthe first access point and the second access point each communicate withthe common DHCP server.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprisingcommunicating with the second access point using the DHCP information,wherein the first access point and the second access point are incommunication with a common DHCP server.
 8. The method of claim 1,wherein the first access point is in communication with a first DHCPserver, and further comprising: requesting DHCP information from asecond DHCP server in communication with the second access point; andcommunicating with the second access point using the DHCP informationfrom the second DHCP server.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein theindication is distinct from the DHCP information.
 10. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising associating with the second access pointwithout initiating communication between the second access point and aDHCP server.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication includesan authentication message that includes a same network flag.
 12. Anapparatus comprising: a memory configured to store dynamic hostconfiguration protocol (DHCP) information; and a radio frequency (RF)interface configured to initiate a link setup procedure with a firstaccess point, wherein the link setup procedure includes receiving theDHCP information via the first access point, wherein the RF interface isfurther configured to communicate with the first access point using theDHCP information, to initiate communication with a second access point,and, prior to initiating DHCP reconfiguration with the second accesspoint, to receive an indication from the second access point identifyingwhether to communicate with the second access point using the DHCPinformation, wherein a value of the indication identifies whether linksetup time with the second access point may be reduced by avoiding theDHCP reconfiguration with the second access point.
 13. The apparatus ofclaim 12, wherein the DHCP information includes an Internet Protocol(IP) address.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the indicationidentifies whether the first access point and the second access pointare included in a common network.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, whereinthe common network includes a common DHCP server, and wherein the firstaccess point and the second access point each communicate with thecommon DHCP server.
 16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the DHCPinformation is received from a first DHCP server, and further comprisinga processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configuredto access the DHCP information to determine whether to communicate withthe second access point using the DHCP information or to request DHCPinformation from a second DHCP server.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16,wherein the memory is further configured to store the DHCP informationfrom the second DHCP server after receiving the DHCP information fromthe second DHCP server.
 18. The apparatus of claim 12, integrated withina mobile device.
 19. A computer-readable medium storing instructionsexecutable by a processor of a mobile device to cause the mobile deviceto perform operations that reduce link setup time, the operationscomprising: initiating a link setup procedure with a first access point,wherein the link setup procedure includes receiving dynamic hostconfiguration protocol (DHCP) information via the first access point;communicating with the first access point using the DHCP information;after communicating with the first access point, initiatingcommunication with a second access point; and prior to initiating DHCPreconfiguration with the second access point, receiving an indicationfrom the second access point identifying whether the mobile device isable to communicate with the second access point using the DHCPinformation, wherein a value of the indication identifies whether themobile device is able to reduce link setup time with the second accesspoint by avoiding the DHCP reconfiguration with the second access point.20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the indicationidentifies whether the first access point and the second access pointare included in a common network.
 21. The computer-readable medium ofclaim 20, wherein the common network includes a common DHCP server, andwherein the first access point and the second access point eachcommunicate with the common DHCP server.
 22. The computer-readablemedium of claim 19, wherein the operations further include communicatingwith the second access point using the DHCP information, wherein thefirst access point and the second access point are in communication witha common DHCP server.
 23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22,wherein the first access point is in communication with a first DHCPserver, and wherein the operations further include: requesting DHCPinformation from a second DHCP server in communication with the secondaccess point; and communicating with the second access point using theDHCP information from the second DHCP server.
 24. The computer-readablemedium of claim 19, wherein the DHCP information includes an InternetProtocol (IP) address.
 25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24,wherein communicating with the first access point using the DHCPinformation includes receiving data via the first access point, the dataaddressed to the mobile device via the IP address.
 26. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein initiating communicationwith the second access point includes performing an initial link setupto establish connectivity with the second access point.
 27. An apparatuscomprising: means for initiating a link setup procedure with a firstaccess point, wherein the link setup procedure includes receivingdynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) information via the firstaccess point; means for communicating with the first access point usingthe DHCP information; means for initiating communication with a secondaccess point after communicating with the first access point; and meansfor receiving, prior to initiating DHCP reconfiguration with the secondaccess point, an indication from the second access point identifyingwhether to communicate with the second access point using the DHCPinformation, wherein a value of the indication identifies whether linksetup time with the second access point may be reduced by avoiding theDHCP reconfiguration with the second access point.
 28. The apparatus ofclaim 27, wherein the DHCP information includes an Internet Protocol(IP) address.
 29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the indicationidentifies whether the first access point and the second access pointare included in a common network.
 30. The apparatus of claim 29, whereinthe common network includes a common DHCP server, and wherein the firstaccess point and the second access point each communicate with thecommon DHCP server.
 31. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprisingmeans for storing the DHCP information.
 32. The apparatus of claim 31,further comprising means for executing instructions, wherein the meansfor executing instructions is configured to access the DHCP informationfrom the means for storing.
 33. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein theindication includes a same network flag.
 34. A method of operation of anaccess point to reduce link setup time, the method comprising: receivinga communication from a mobile device; and prior to initiation of dynamichost configuration protocol (DHCP) reconfiguration by the mobile device,sending, to the mobile device, an indication, wherein a value of theindication identifies whether the DHCP reconfiguration is avoidable. 35.The method of claim 34, wherein the indication includes a same networkflag.
 36. An apparatus comprising: a memory; and a processor coupled tothe memory, the processor configured to process a communication receivedfrom a mobile device and, prior to initiation of dynamic hostconfiguration protocol (DHCP) reconfiguration by the mobile device, tosend an indication to the mobile device, wherein a value of theindication identifies whether the DHCP reconfiguration is avoidable. 37.The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the communication includes anauthentication message.
 38. An apparatus comprising: means for receivinga communication from a mobile device; and means for sending anindication to the mobile device prior to initiation of dynamic hostconfiguration protocol (DHCP) reconfiguration by the mobile device,wherein a value of the indication identifies whether the DHCPreconfiguration is avoidable.
 39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein theindication includes an authentication message that includes a samenetwork flag.
 40. A computer-readable medium storing instructionsexecutable by a processor of an access point to cause the access pointto perform operations that reduce link setup time, the operationscomprising: receiving a communication from a mobile device; and prior toinitiation of dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) reconfigurationby the mobile device, sending, to the mobile device, an indication,wherein a value of the indication identifies whether the DHCPreconfiguration is avoidable.
 41. The computer-readable medium of claim40, the operations further comprising receiving an association requestfrom the mobile device, after sending the indication.